RPS discussion on the Health and Social Care Bill

[El-loco]

At long last the RPS is reviewing its position of supporting Andrew Lansley's bill in the hope that it will be looked upon favourably and that one-off dispensing errors will be decriminalised.

Debate has begun on the General group forum of the RPS website and is getting quite lively. There is also a webinar planned for the evening of 22nd February where pharmacists can tell the RPS how they want it to represent their views.

The RCN, RCM, BMA, RCGP and other royal colleges have expressed significant reservation - should the RPS do likewise?

What do people think?

[mrmeds]

yes- I can't believe they sat on the fence for so long then decided to support it based on the hope that a single piece of pro-pharmacy legislation might be enacted.
Are there lots of people on the RPSGB with interests in companies who could profit from the changes ? Have they seeked the opinion of the membership ?

[Ap0thecary]

Yes the RPS should get its foot in there too. Its about time someone listened to our (quiet) voice.

We had a mini-lecture at uni recently on LPC's, and the guest speaker said how they had proposed to voice their opinions to a local MP. The MP said he does not see the point with pharmacists.....and effects to those words. Ok, that is the opinion of the MP etc etc, but apart from the decriminalised dispensing error law, how does the Bill help/affect us in any other way?

PS. I am a novice with politics...

[johnep]

Saw groups invited to discuss with minister. nurses and Drs but pharmacy absent as usual. We are of no importance in the scheme of things.
johnep

[Band6]

As a hospital pharmacist, I thinks it's going to be a nightmare. I reckon it's going to cause all sorts of problems with different Consortia having slightly different rules as to what is/is not allowed. Seems like we're straight back to post-code prescribing. I wonder about the benefits to my community colleagues though, as that is what will determine how the RPS goes.

[Ap0thecary]

Do people think community pharmacists will be affected much? If so, how specifically?

I hear a lot of people saying pharmacists will be "involved" a lot more. Are they not involved as much at the moment?

[mrmeds]

i can imagine the consortia seeing a nice role for pharmacy- as a cash cow to be milked, unless the 100 hour loophole is closed

[Ap0thecary]

i can imagine the consortia seeing a nice role for pharmacy- as a cash cow to be milked, unless the 100 hour loophole is closed

Any guesses?

[Ap0thecary]

Saw groups invited to discuss with minister. nurses and Drs but pharmacy absent as usual. We are of no importance in the scheme of things.
johnep

Why is pharmacy (society) never mentioned in the news regarding this bill.

I think there is one article in the PJ just considering the dispensing error penalty.

[Gordon Mackenzie]

There will be GP led clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). Will there be pharmacist led CCGs?