Pharmacy bodies have joined together to represent community pharmacy at the Local Government Association’s national conference this week.
Representatives from Pharmacy Voice, PSNC and the RPS are exhibiting jointly at the event, at whichspeakers include Prime Minister David Cameron, the Leader of the Opposition and the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.
Gareth Jones from Pharmacy Voice said:
“Local authorities are taking on more powers in relation to public health, and we need pharmacy to be on radar of councillors and local officials. Our combined attendance at the LGA conference gives us a great platform to reach out to this group with a coherent message about what pharmacy can deliver.”
Sue Sharpe, Chief Executive of PSNC said:
“A joint pharmacy presence at the LGA will enable us to reach out to councillors who will take on responsibility for local commissioning of public health services, and encourage them to plan ahead and work closely with their LPCs. Many won’t yet appreciate the scale of the challenge ahead, and we’re here to both ease the transition and ensure that the potential of community pharmacy is realised when the reforms are put in place.”
Neal Patel, Head of Corporate Communications at RPS said:
"As Government plans to transfer responsibilities for public health into local government, and local authorities begin to shape their public health role, collaborating with other pharmacy bodies and presenting a joined up pharmacy offer is hugely important.
“As well as showing how pharmacists are providing a range of public health services directly to patients we are promoting the role of pharmacists as advisors or employees of local authorities at LGA Annual Conference.”
The LGA conference, Localism Works, is at the ICC Birmingham 28-30 June.