PSNC calls for national minor ailments service
National implementation of a minor ailments service as an essential service
under the new pharmacy contract has been called for by the Pharmaceutical
Services Negotiating Committee.
In written evidence to the All Party Pharmacy Group’s inquiry into
the future of pharmacy services, the PSNC says: “The benefits of
introduction of this service at a national level far outweigh the theoretical
risks of increased medicines expenditure.”
Three key areas in which the PSNC believes advanced services should be
developed are supporting self care, managing long-term conditions and
public health/disease prevention. Suitable services include providing
emergency hormonal contraception, helping people stop smoking, obesity
management and immunisation. Pharmacists could also help people manage
long-term conditions, such as asthma, the PSNC says.
The committee also warns that the current financial climate in the NHS
is hindering the development of enhanced services. It says that a failure
by primary care trusts to understand the profit element of the new contract,
which encourages efficient purchasing and drives down NHS costs overall,
has undermined nationally agreed funding arrangements. This is particularly
the case where PCTs have tried to restrict prescribing freedom.
The PSNC is also concerned that practice-based commissioning locality
groups should have multidisciplinary governance arrangements that include
community pharmacy representatives. |
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