Responsibility for pharmacy issues now with new Minister
Jane Kennedy: Minister now
responsible for pharmacy portfolio |
Jane Kennedy is the new Minister responsible for pharmacy issues at the Department of Health. She effectively takes over the pharmacy portfolio from Rosie Winterton.
As Minister of State for quality and patient safety, Ms Kennedy’s
other responsibilities include the National Patient Safety Agency, standards,
inspection and performance, clinical governance and quality issues. Also
in her portfolio are clinical negligence, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus, reducing bureaucracy, the National Institute for Health and Clinical
Excellence, genetics, the pharmaceutical industry, research and development,
the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and counter fraud.
For pharmacy issues, there is some overlap with the responsibilities
of other ministers. For example, Ms Winterton’s new portfolio as
Minister of State for health services includes emergency preparedness,
cancer services, cardiac services, diabetes services, mental health,
patient and public involvement, renal services and equality and diversity
issues. She is also responsible for prison health care.
As well as new ministers, last month’s general election has
also brought about proposals for new health care legislation potentially
affecting hospital pharmacy. Bills announced in the Queen’s
Speech included a NHS Redress Bill, which is designed to provide
patients with a quick response to low value clinical negligence
claims. This is designed to introduce a real alternative to litigation
and
avoid its associated delays and costs and to drive consistency
across the NHS in the way claims are dealt with.
There will also be a Hospital Hygiene Bill, introducing a hygiene code of practice
for all NHS bodies, independent health care providers and care homes in an attempt
to reduce the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Inspectors,
from the Healthcare Commission or the Commission for Social Care Inspection will
be able to issue improvement orders. Consultation is to take place to determine
further details about the hygiene code and what the enforcement sanctions will
be.
|
|
Hospital Pharmacist