Pharmacy Sector Steps Up Joint Work, England

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 31 Aug 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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Four of the principal bodies representing community pharmacy have stepped up their work to realise the opportunities presented by the important 2008 White Paper Pharmacy in England: Building on strengths - delivering the future. In an innovative move they have appointed an experienced project manager to coordinate a working framework across all the four organisations.

Rachael Wilkinson, latterly Operations Manager at the Royal London Dental Teaching Hospital, joined the AIMp, CCA, NPA and RPSGB consortium, in mid August. Her remit is to provide the framework within which the bodies will deliver White Paper actions, with a specific emphasis on those involving collaborative activity. In this way the partnership's actions will be greater than the sum of its parts and will accelerate the realisation of benefits for English pharmacists and their patients.

The collaborative work of the four bodies has already examined the Quality Framework to identify and understand how it may be applied to pharmacists in the community, with a view to enhancing patient services. Additionally, joint work has also delivered commissioning tips to assist Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) in approaching pharmacists, a diabetes toolkit and a forum to discuss IT issues with Connecting for Health. Further advice for community pharmacists is planned and the partnership looks forward to Rachael helping the work gather additional pace.

Commenting on the new appointment Colin Baldwin of AIMp said "There is a considerable amount of work being done by all the Pharmacy Bodies in taking forward the important agenda outlined in the Pharmacy White Paper. This new position will be of considerable help and support to all the Chief Executives and their organisations in ensuring that no stone is left unturned and no effort wasted in securing the future for pharmacy for which we are all jointly working."

Rob Darracott, CCA Chief Executive, said: "The White Paper may represent Government intent, but pharmacy organisations have their part to play in ensuring that its implementation reflects the aspirations of the profession too. We look forward to working with Rachel over the coming months."

John Turk, NPA Chief Executive said, "There is an urgent need to demonstrate tangible progress to owners and practitioners on the pharmacy front line. Rachael's appointment represents an investment that will drive the progressive agenda detailed in the White Paper. For many NPA members, their day to day realities seem very far removed from the White Paper's vision of pharmacy in the 'service era'. The NPA wholeheartedly endorses the White Paper's vision for pharmacy and through our commitment to this collaborative enterprise we are showing our determination to make sure the vision becomes a reality."

Jeremy Holmes, RPSGB Chief Executive & Registrar said: "The Pharmacy White Paper undoubtedly holds one of the keys to added value healthcare delivery. We are delighted the work of this important collaborative group can now be accelerated. Rachel is very good casting for the role, which will be based at the RPSGB but the focus of which will be to drive and coordinate the joint working of the four bodies. "

The Association of Independent Multiples (AIMp) has over 1200 pharmacies in membership and represents the interests of the independent multiple sector. Its members have between 5 to 300 shops, and include: Day Lewis plc, HI Weldrick Ltd and PCT Healthcare.

The Company Chemists Association (CCA) provides a forum for the major businesses engaged in community pharmacy to work together to help create an environment where community pharmacy can flourish, and where pharmacy contractors compete in a fair and equitable way. The CCA's nine member companies - Alliance Boots, Co-operative Group Pharmacy, Lloydspharmacy, Tesco, J Sainsbury, Wm Morrison Supermarkets, Asda, Rowlands Pharmacy and Superdrug - together own over 6,000 pharmacies, representing over 45% of the pharmacies in the United Kingdom.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) was established in 1921 as the trade association of community pharmacy owners. To reflect the changes in the pharmacy environment the NPA now extends membership and its associated benefits to all members of the community pharmacy infrastructure.

Source
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

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