NHS Employers and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) are discussing changes which could help increase the quality of patient care.
The community pharmacy contractual framework discussions will look at developing new or improved pharmacy services.
These include reducing the amount of wasted medicine and offering special help to patients with long-term conditions. The talks will also look at providing more minor ailment services.
The work will see patients receive a better service from their community pharmacies and help to develop clinical and existing core services.
Felicity Cox, lead negotiator for NHS Employers community pharmacy team, said: “New or improved services could have the potential to transform UK pharmacies, helping patients to be more informed about their health generally and how medicines can help them manage their health better.”
Sue Sharpe, chief executive officer of PSNC said: “This review provides an exciting opportunity to hasten the development of the new services set out in the White Paper and to further demonstrate that community pharmacy is an integral part of primary care.”
Over the next few months, NHS Employers and PSNC will be engaged in detailed negotiations over the possible changes.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
