The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7403 p646
3 June 2006

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NPA worries over loss of care homes business

Concern over the loss of care homes business from independent pharmacies to multiples has prompted the National Pharmacy Association to try to redress the balance between the two.

As a first step, it has obtained accreditation for its “Medicines in care homes” training package from the University of Abertay, Dundee, because the Commission for Social Care Inspection has told care homes that they must only use accredited training courses.

It is also to write to the care home chains to tell them about the accreditation and is to produce guidance for NPA members to help them keep their care homes business.

Independent pharmacies are losing business because the care homes sector is becoming increasingly corporate and owners prefer to deal with national pharmacy chains.