The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7470 p315
22 September 2007

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Pharmacy set for further involvement in primary care

Pharmacies could be involved in the provision of a much wider range of primary care services in future, Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson indicated at a press briefing this week.

He said that the Government is aware that it has to do more to ensure that everyone is guaranteed the same high standard of care no matter where they live.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said that it was investigating the use of new providers of additional GP services, such as large retail chains, including pharmacies, as part of the drive to improve access to primary care. “This will mean that services will be available closer to where people [want] them such as in your high street or closer to your workplace,” he said.

“To aid this process, we will be inviting potential private and third sector providers of primary care services to a meeting to understand ideas and suggestions they might have about how we can best use their contribution in extending primary care access.”

The meeting, to be led by health minister Lord Darzi and described by the DoH as a “primary care summit”, is scheduled for next month and will include Boots and Lloydspharmacy among the invited participants.

Lloydspharmacy managing director Justin Ash spoke to The Journal about the company’s involvement. “We hope to see a lot of creative ideas about how to improve people’s access to primary care services, especially in communities where access is poor. I would like to see rapid expansion of what pharmacy itself can provide, as well as a breakdown of professional barriers between GPs and pharmacy, particularly in the area of minor ailments.”

He said that any plans would need both national coverage and local accountability, and he stressed the need for such plans to move forward over a timeframe of months rather than years.

Rob Darracott, Company Chemists’ Association chief executive, commented: “Proposals to provide [GP] services from pharmacies should come as no surprise. This is a logical development in an NHS that is striving to become more consumer led. … To move from theory to practice there are a number of financial barriers to be overcome. But if we can create a level playing field between providers, this will open up significant opportunities.”