The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7470 p315
22 September 2007

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News summary

National minor ailment scheme ambitions given boost by Secretary of State for Health

Proposals for a national minor ailments scheme have resurfaced following comments made last week by Alan Johnson in his first major speech as Secretary of State for Health. The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has written to the health secretary requesting a meeting to discuss the proposals and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has also responded.

Mr Johnson told the New Health Network (a multi-professional network that focuses on patient interests) that to increase access to primary care and reduce inequalities “we need to ensure that there are more routes into primary care, including high street pharmacies, sports centres and walk-in centres”.

The greater the number of outlets, the better the chance services will be delivered at a time and place that suits the patient, he added.

In response, the PSNC has written to the health secretary highlighting community pharmacists’ role in public health and requesting a meeting to discuss nationally funded services.

“If pharmacies are to have a real impact in reducing NHS expenditure and improving outcomes, consistent services need to be available in pharmacies, so they can be properly promoted and so all patients can access the same level of service throughout the country,” writes Sue Sharpe, chief executive of the PSNC.

She goes on to explain that national minor ailments services through pharmacies will enable GPs to concentrate on patients who need more urgent care and that treatment via this route costs one third of that of a GP consultation.

The Society has called for the NHS to invest more money in pharmacy services. President Hemant Patel said: “Pharmacy has proven that it can deliver genuine health improvements that help reduce health inequalities. But, there must be proper investment in new pharmacy services to ensure that the public see the full benefit.”