Pharmacy Voice responds to Monitor’s preliminary consultation ‘Fair Playing Field’

Date: 12 07 2012

Pharmacy Voice has submitted a response to Monitor’s preliminary consultation Fair Playing Field – for the benefit of patients.

Rob Darracott, Chief Executive of Pharmacy Voice said:

“Community pharmacy has many strengths, including a unique combination of accessibility and medicines expertise. A fairer playing field with other providers would bring these strengths more into play for the benefit of patients.”

Pharmacy Voice makes the following points in their response:

• Community pharmacy payment systems lack transparency and act as a disincentive to investment in improved patient care.
• There needs to be a level playing field for access to training during working hours. The need for pharmacists to pay for locum cover whilst they are absent is a disincentive for them to attend training.
• Community pharmacists need read/ write access to patients summary care records and the ability to transmit information electronically so they can provide high quality NHS Services and integrated care.
• There needs to be equal access to datasets used by commissioners. The providers of pharmaceutical services cannot put in an accurate bid for services if they do not understand the healthcare requirements and challenges.
• There must be clear separation of the commissioning functions of clinical commissioning groups and the provider GPs, to enable all qualified providers equal opportunity to tender for services.
• There is currently a bias by NHS commissioners to NHS providers or a prejudice against non NHS providers. GPs are considered to be part of the NHS family whist community pharmacists are often viewed differently.
• Providers must not misuse their clinical relationships to restrict patient choice for commercial gain. GPs must declare their or any close family members financial interest in pharmacies.
• Local commissioners should be obliged to take into account all financial investment in the provider base made by other parts of the NHS.

http://www.pharmacyvoice.com/images/press/fair_playing_field1.pdf