Is an individual pharmacist contract on the cards?

During the question and answer session, Mark Koziol, PDA chairman, told delegates that he was more excited about the opportunities provided within this White Paper than anything that he had seen the DoH propose before. However, he argued that the current problems identifed with the provision of MUR’s for example indicated that the way that the new cognitive services were being currently delivered and remunerated needed to be re-examined.

In particular, issues surrounding health and safety at work, staffng levels and a strategic review of remuneration were important, given that pharmacists are at the centre of service provision and yet they were not really recognised in any remuneration models. Mr Koziol then threw down the gauntlet and challenged the panel (all representatives from the Department of Health) to consider introducing the concept of an individual pharmacist NHS contract, which would be specifcally designed for the provision of specialist services.

This ‘new style’ contract would not seek to replace the existing ’bricks and mortar’ contract which is held by owners of pharmacies, but would be as an adjunct to it.

In reply, Keith Ridge, Chief Pharmacist, England, said that the idea needed to be thought through, as well as a timescale for implementation. Jeanette Howe, agreed that it was an idea worthy of thought and suggested that some form of franchise arrangement may even be one way forward.