| Repeat dispensing
and medicines management extended
(17 September 2003)
A second wave of repeat dispensing sites has been announced at the British Pharmaceutical Conference by Health Minister Rosie Winterton. Applications
for 40 sites, in addition to the original 30 pathfinder sites, were invited.
The minister also announced a fourth wave of 40 further sites for medicines
management schemes and a new medicines management framework for hospitals.
“Such schemes are making a real difference to patients,” Mrs Winterton
told the conference. “The number of older people getting their medicines
reviewed properly has doubled in the past 12 months. The number of people experiencing
problems with repeat medicines has fallen dramatically.”
Mrs Winterton also announced that £1m was to be made available to community
pharmacy contractors as an initial contribution to support the training of
pharmacy technicians and assistants.
“Training and defining competence and appropriate qualifications are fundamental
to our proposals to enable pharmacy technicians to supply medicines without
the direct supervision of a pharmacist,” she said. “Even so, a
pharmacist will still be required to be legally and professionally accountable
for the activities within each pharmacy. We will bring forward proposals for
consultation early next year.” |
