Mediation may resolve LPC/PSNC dispute
Settlement of the long-standing dispute between the Pharmaceutical Services
Negotiating Committee and North East London Local Pharmaceutical Committee
over LPC conference resolutions may be at hand.
In a statement issued late last week, the PSNC said that it was optimistic
that the dispute will shortly be resolved.
PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe said: “We understand that the LPC
wants PSNC to apologise for the handling of resolutions put by NE London
LPC to the LPC conference in March 2001.When I was first advised of the
LPC’s unhappiness about this issue, at the conference in 2002, I
apologised to the conference (PJ,
9 March 2002, p311). There was no doubt that the response given to
the LPC was inadequate, and we are happy to repeat the apology, as we
have done on several occasions over the past four years.” Mrs Sharpe
added: “We hope this will clear any obstacle within the LPC to payment
of sums owing to the PSNC. Events in early 2001, long before the new community
pharmacy contract was developed, should be consigned to history and in
all respects it is time for community pharmacy to look forward, not backwards.
As community pharmacy at last begins to take its proper place in NHS primary
care we need to work together.”
The PSNC accepted in October 2005 the offer made by NE London Strategic
Health Authority to mediate in the dispute.The LPC has also accepted that
offer. However, a statement issued by the LPC said:“The LPC has
no record of any apologies made but nonetheless is delighted to receive
the apology as it makes resolution of the dispute easier.”
It also denied that any apology had been made by the PSNC at the 2002
LPC conference and that the PSNC had only agreed to look at LPC resolutions
again.
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