Third Wave of Local Pharmaceutical Services Pilot Sites Announced UK

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 06 Aug 2004 - 7:00 PDT


Pharmacists in 11 areas across the country have been given the go ahead to provide new services to improve access and expand the NHS services available locally UK Health Minister John Hutton announced today.

Local Pharmaceutical Services (LPS) pilot sites offer opportunities for Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to agree contracts that deliver local services in ways which are not possible under the current national contract arrangements, so they can:

-- Tailor local NHS pharmacy services to meet local needs and priorities

-- Work closely with community pharmacists and other health professionals to make better use of pharmacist skills

-- Improve the quality of NHS services delivered and the patient experience.

Announcing the successful proposals from a third wave of Local Pharmaceutical Services pilot sites Health Minister Rt Hon John Hutton MP said,

"Community pharmacists are highly valued by patients and the public because of the professional help and advice they give on health and medicines."

"Pharmacy has even greater potential as a fully integrated part of the NHS and these pilots are at the forefront of improving the accessibility and range of NHS pharmacy services in the community."

"In addition to each pilot's dispensing responsibilities they will also provide a range of other services needed locally, such as; longer and weekend opening; services closer to the community; smoking cessation clinics; substance mis-use services; safe medicines disposal; emergency hormonal contraception and advice for patients to get the most from their medicines. These additional NHS community services will not just improve patients health but also ease GP's workload, help older people live independently, and reduce the harm of smoking and drug misuse by making the most of pharmacists skills."

"LPS pilots provide PCTs with the flexibility to design and provide services with local patient's needs in mind and at the same time help to deliver local PCT priorities."

"I am keen to invite more PCTs to submit proposals for the next wave of Local Pharmaceutical Services pilots. The closing date is 1st September 2004."

The 11 successful PCTs piloting new Local Pharmaceutical Services are:

Primary Care Trusts

- Lambeth PCT - Across the PCT

- Southwark PCT - Across the PCT

- Lewisham PCT - Across the PCT

- Eastern Hull PCT - Across the PCT

- Salford PCT - Eccles, and Pendleton

- Wandsworth PCT - Across the PCT

- Bebington & West Wirral PCT - Across the PCT

- Birkenhead & Wallasey PCT - Across the PCT

- West Lancashire PCT - Skelmersdale

- Warrington PCT - Across the PCT

- South West Dorset PCT - Bridport

- Sutton & Merton PCT (Not yet reached final phase) - Across the PCT

- Dudley Beacon & Castle PCT (Not yet reached final phase) - Priory Road area

Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, UK

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