Pharmacy services to be extended onto internet in England

Under new proposals the government has provisionally approved internet-only pharmacy services for England.

Following a public consultation the government say that the changes will make it simpler and faster for new pharmacies to open and offer the NHS services patients need, whilst supporting the vital role that pharmacies play in providing local healthcare.

Patients will find new pharmacies easier to get to, open longer and offering a wider range of services locally following new rules to control the location of pharmacies.

An Office of Fair Trading report on the control of entry regulations and retail pharmacy services in the UK recommended abolition of some of the current "control of entry" restrictions on NHS pharmacy applications.

The final package of measures for regulatory freedoms include several safeguards:

• Pharmacies located in shopping centres over 15,000 square metres, must be away from town centres;
• Pharmacies that are set up by consortia establishing new one-stop primary care centres must offer a wide range of primary care and community based services in addition to usual GP services, for instance, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, or other social or community based services to a substantial population of around 18,000 to 20,000 patients;
• Pharmacies that are wholly internet or mail-order based must provide a fully professional service;
• Pharmacies that commit to opening more than 100 hours per week must stick to this commitment.

All pharmacy applications that fall into one of these four categories and offer a full and prescribed range of services determined locally (or in the case of internet and mail order based pharmacies by the Department of Health), will automatically have their applications to provide NHS pharmacy services accepted.

Health Minister Rosie Winterton said: “These reforms continue to support the Government’s aim to put the needs of patients first, ensuring that local health services reflect the changing lifestyles and needs of patients. We are maintaining the vital role played by community pharmacies, particularly in poorer and rural areas, many of whom are small businesses.

“We are determined to improve access to, and the choice of, pharmacy services and to encourage innovation and excellence so that community pharmacy is recognised as a key player in the provision of NHS services.

“These reforms will provide an environment in which community pharmacy services can thrive.”

Anne Galbraith Chair of the Advisory Group said government had given the proposals and advice "careful consideration" and was "pleased to see that alongside the reform measures, Government has committed to a range of safeguards to ensure patients can continue to access the NHS pharmacy services they will need."

In addition it is intended that the current NHS Primary Care Trusts (PCT) assessment process will be further streamlined to, make it quicker, more transparent and promote more consistent decision-making.

“Control of entry” is the system whereby a PCT judges whether a new pharmacy is either necessary or desirable to ensure adequate provision of NHS pharmacy services locally.

(SP)