Guidance on LPS contracts for low-volume pharmacies expected
Guidance on developing local pharmaceutical services (LPS) contracts to support low-volume pharmacies is expected to be ready by September, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has revealed.
At a meeting last week, the Department of Health confirmed that it is
preparing updated and expanded guidance on LPS, and that this guidance
will include a model contract. It will also refer to primary care trusts
using LPS schemes to support pharmacies that process low volumes of prescriptions
to meet PCTs’ pharmaceutical service obligations.
The PSNC is recommending that pharmacy contractors who are likely to
be affected by the withdrawal of the protected professional allowance
contact their PCTs now to begin working with them on identifying and
meeting PCTs’ pharmaceutical needs. Contractors should try to identify
services that they are not yet providing themselves, but which could
help the PCT meet local needs, the PSNC says, adding that local pharmaceutical
committees will be able to offer guidance on this.
PCTs were reminded earlier this year that the allowance is to be withdrawn
after 31 March 2008. The DoH told PCTs that they would need to consider
how they would secure adequate provision of pharmaceutical services in
areas served by pharmacies affected by the renewal of the allowance.
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