GPC Statement on the Pharmacy White Paper - 8 May 08
GPC Statement on the Implications of the Pharmacy White Paper for Dispensing GPs in England
8th May 2008
The GPC has been involved in all of the consultation on the Pharmacy White Paper thus far and it has been reported in GPC and BMA News. The section of the White Paper about dispensing doctors builds on the Galbraith Report, one of the subsidiary documents published with the White Paper, into the Control of Entry regulations. The GPC submitted detailed written evidence and oral evidence to Anne Galbraith and her committee last year.
In addition, we have worked closely, and successfully, with the Dispensing Doctors' Association for the last decade and will continue to do so.
Chapter 8 of the White Paper, paragraphs 8.67-8.74, about dispensing doctors does, on first reading, look intimidating but the entire section of the White Paper concerning dispensing GPs is not a statement of intent by the Department of Health, but a consultation on potential changes to the control of entry rules for market entry. Paragraphs 8.67 to 8.73 sets out a series of issues for consideration with possible solutions, with liberal use of the words "could" or "would" we believe that key section is in the final paragraph, 8.74, in bold text which states:
"... the Government proposes that any changes to dispensing doctor market entry arrangements should be part of a wider consultation on elements of the "control of entry" system itself, as proposed here (in the White Paper). The consultation will also consider whether current regulatory arrangements can be streamlined so that dispensing consent in future is sought under a single regulatory route".
The consultation is unlikely to begin until after the final Darzi report in July as the two are intended to be closely aligned. However, it is impossible to know at this stage what proposals will emerge from the White Paper regarding control of entry to Pharmaceutical Services.
The GPC is totally committed to defending the rights of dispensing doctors and this is the stated policy of the Annual Conference of Representatives of LMCs. We will be working closely with the Dispensing Doctors' Association in the forthcoming consultation on the White Paper.
The existing control of entry arrangements which are set out in the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005 as amended, were the subject of ten years of joint working between the GPC/DDA and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC – representing community pharmacy contractors) and are serving patients very well.
In her keynote speech at the Pharmacy White Paper Listening Event on 1st May 2008, Dawn Primarolo MP, Minister for Pharmacy, said that dispensing doctors have a “pivotal role in the continued access of medicines to patients”. We agree.
We have met with the representatives of Community Pharmacist contractors, the PSNC, with whom were worked closely and constructively to deliver the current control of entry regulations. We will continue to work with the PSNC during the consultation and negotiating process following the White Paper.
There is understandably considerable uncertainty amongst dispensing GPs as a result of the White Paper’s publication. Our advice is that practices should continue running their businesses as they have done until we have concluded our discussions and clear proposals are published by the Department of Health, following consultation with the GPC and other stakeholders. At this stage, we envisage that any regulatory/legislative changes are unlikely to be effected for a year at the very least.
The Department of Health is undertaking a series of “listening” events on the White Paper. These are open to the public and can be accessed and booked at the Primary Care Contracting website below. We would encourage dispensing GPs, LMC officers and members to attend, the events are free:
http://www.primarycarecontracting.nhs.uk/events/
The White Paper and Galbraith Report can be accessed from the Department of Health’s website:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_083815
If you have any enquiries, or wish to submit your views to the GPC, about the Pharmacy White Paper please e-mail misom@bma.org.uk or call 020 7383 6518
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