Royal Pharmaceutical Society Of Great Britain Lobbies Government, UK

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 06 Dec 2007 - 3:00 PDT

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Representatives of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain attended the most recent meeting of the All-Party Pharmacy Group in the House of Commons on Tuesday 27 November 2007.

Pharmacy Minister, Dawn Primarolo, attended the meeting to discuss The Future of Pharmacy recently published by the Group. Representatives from the Society pressed the Minister on several issues including Continuing Professional Development, ensuring effective commissioning at a local level and the Pharmacy Contract.

The cross-party Group comprises politicians who have an interest in pharmacy and work together to promote its interests within government. The Society is a founder member of the Group and works with MPs to ensure pharmacy's voice is heard. The meeting was the first in a series of engagements expected with Dawn Primarolo to discuss issues surrounding the future of the profession.

The Minister has accepted an invitation to speak at the December Society Council Dinner. In addition, a pharmacy visit by the Minister is also being arranged, where the Society will demonstrate pharmacy's important role in primary health care. President of the Society, Hemant Patel, commented: "These events are important because we give first hand experience of issues that affect pharmacy to those who are deciding its future.

'Tonight, we have pressed the Minister on a number of points made by our Members, some of which she has clearly accepted. We will continue to press for a review of practice-based commissioning and for assurance that changes in the distribution process for the Global Sum won't result in more delay in essential payments to pharmacists.

'We have a commitment from the Minister to continue dialogue with us on the issues raised and we will expect the Government to take our views into account as they introduce the new legislation required to enable our profession to take a greater role in primary care provision."

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain