Crucial consultation on Scottish pharmacy launched

The Scottish Government recently held a consultation on the ‘Control of Entry Arrangements’ that govern the application process for new NHS community pharmacy contracts. 

This is a crucial consultation, with doctors in dispensing practices lobbying Scotland’s politicians to protect their status and the income received from dispensing medicines. RPS is taking a strong position to promote patient interest and access to community pharmacy services in Scotland. 

Bodies representing dispensing GP practices are demanding that any practice likely to be affected by the award of a new NHS pharmacy contract should have the right to make direct representation to the Pharmacy Practices Committee (PPC) considering the application, and for the Committee to have a duty to consider the impact on that practice’s income of allowing a new pharmacy to open.

The Society will respond positively to proposals in the consultation that will improve the application process.  However, we are adamant that the fundamental principle of providing patients with the best possible pharmaceutical care should not be compromised.

Lyndon Braddick, RPS Director for Scotland, said, “The Scottish Government’s health action plan ‘Better Health, Better Care’ not only acknowledged the important role community pharmacy plays in the nation’s healthcare, but also encouraged the expansion of that role. That could be hindered by unnecessary changes to the Control of Entry Arrangements, making the application process more complicated and reducing the focus on determining local need for the range of NHS pharmacy services.”

“The Society has been pointing out to MSPs that the current application system for new pharmacy contracts actually works well. There are examples of applications being approved and rejected, depending on how the PPC views the best way to ensure local pharmaceutical care for patients. In addition, there are no examples of GP practices having to close following the opening of a community pharmacy.

“It is important that the profession is heard on this crucial issue. We need to ensure that providing patients with the best possible pharmaceutical care remains the central principle in deciding whether or not to allow an application for a new NHS pharmacy contract.”

For further information on this consultation please contact the RPSGB Scottish Office on 0131 556 4386 or email iain.brotchie@rpsgb.org