Improved funding for community pharmacy

[Tony Schofield]

Despite a further reduction in category M prices for October, PSNC has written to contractors to inform them of a significant increase in the professional allowance which, put simply, injects significant "new" money into community pharmacy.

I have been saying for some time that the DOH values pharmacy and this new money will significantly improve contractor's ability to invest in the future. No doubt some will look to upgrade their cars and many locums will see an opportunity to increase their rates, never the less community pharmacy is better funded now than it was.

Many thanks to PSNC who always get flak when things go wrong but never seem to get the credit due to them when things go right!

Well things have just improved significantly and I want to record my gratitude and praise to Sue Sharpe and her team who have secured a fantastic result at a time when government revenues are falling thus making funding improvements less likely

[paul2008]

Despite a further reduction in category M prices for October, PSNC has written to contractors to inform them of a significant increase in the professional allowance which, put simply, injects significant "new" money into community pharmacy.

I have been saying for some time that the DOH values pharmacy and this new money will significantly improve contractor's ability to invest in the future. No doubt some will look to upgrade their cars and many locums will see an opportunity to increase their rates, never the less community pharmacy is better funded now than it was.

Many thanks to PSNC who always get flak when things go wrong but never seem to get the credit due to them when things go right!

Well things have just improved significantly and I want to record my gratitude and praise to Sue Sharpe and her team who have secured a fantastic result at a time when government revenues are falling thus making funding improvements less likely

I'm not sure how community works but does that mean that there is now less pressure to do volumes and more space to provide services? If so this is wonderful news.

[Tony Schofield]

It means that if volumes are maintained there is more money to invest or take as profit. As contractor pharmacists have been under the cosh with soaring overheads and diminishing income for the best part of a year, some of this money may be spent on a well deserved holiday!

However, as pharmacy is better funded now there is less excuse not to invest in decent quality premises and upskilling of staff.

[Jeff]

I have been saying for some time that the DOH values pharmacy and this new money will significantly improve contractor's ability to invest in the future.

You mean the promise that you could invest with confidence is back despite having been absent for the best part of a year.

[/quote] No doubt some will look to upgrade their cars and many locums will see an opportunity to increase their rates,[/quote]
or return the money as shareholder dividends.

[quote] never the less community pharmacy is better funded now than it was.[/quote}
Better than it was last month, but better than it was last year or two years ago or 5 years ago?

Many thanks to PSNC who always get flak when things go wrong but never seem to get the credit due to them when things go right!

Well things have just improved significantly and I want to record my gratitude and praise to Sue Sharpe and her team who have secured a fantastic result at a time when government revenues are falling thus making funding improvements less likely

I'm happy for you

Jeff

[JonF]

What are the amounts involved, i've not been privy to this letter?

[Tony Schofield]

Speaking purely personally the two years either side of the introduction of the "new" contract were the best financially since I owned a business (1981). The last year has been miserable but not as bad as the early 1990's. It is too early to calculate the impact of the increased professional allowance but for the rest of the year it is £1-01 per item up from 34.5p. This is a temporary increase pending a new cost enquiry but only 30.2p per item is temporary.

Category M reductions will take on average 16p per item off this (yes, new cat M reductions) so basically a temporary increas of 50p per item until April 2009. every 1000 items will be paid at £500 per month more. The 30.2p will be adjusted after the cost enquiry.

You say you are happy about this Jeff but do I note a tone of sarcasm?

[Jeff]

Category M reductions will take on average 16p per item off this (yes, new cat M reductions) so basically a temporary increas of 50p per item until April 2009. every 1000 items will be paid at £500 per month more. The 30.2p will be adjusted after the cost enquiry.

You say you are happy about this Jeff but do I note a tone of sarcasm?

I said I was happy for you - and I am. However this income yo-yo that has to be re-engineered every 6 months, still based on script volume rather than service provision is not something I feel any reason to be overjoyed about.

If the new money was a payment for not dispensing unwanted and unneeded items I'd be a lot happier.

Jeff

[Tony Schofield]

The re-engineering of community pharmacy services is underway. The White Paper proposals were greeted with a "when will we have time to do that?" response from employed pharmacists and a "where is the money coming from to pay for this?" from contractor pharmacists.

As the mechanisms to deliver white paper proposals are only now being discussed at the levels that count, I think it a very good thing that money going into community pharmacy is being seen to increase. It shows an act of faith by government, addresses funding concerns amongst those being asked to invest and the potential investment should improve conditions for employed pharmacists.

We are facing a steep economic downturn where NHS spending, reliant on tax receipts which will diminish dramatically over the next year or so, will be under severe pressure. That demonstrates the achievement of Sue Sharpe and her team.

We all know that if proprietors use the money for new holidays and improved shareholder returns or employees take the opportunity to increase their hourly rate the new funding will come to nought. However, I am confident that sufficient will use the opportunity to invest therefore putting pressure on the majority.

It would be great if the new arrangements were part of a new method of paying for quality but I'll take the money until they are!

[SolomonQ]

Mr TS, is there any space for me in the cacoon that you inhabit.

[Tony Schofield]

Any chance you could elaborate on what at first sight appears to be a brainless, meaningless nonsense? I know you want to impress the audience and look cool and knowledgeable but you will have to do better than that.