Postponed: Reform of community pharmacy examined
8 December 2016
The Health Committee one-off evidence session on community pharmacy scheduled for Tuesday 13 December 2016 has been postponed.
Date of session
The session, previously planned for Tuesday 13 December, has been postponed. Since the Committee's decision to hold the session, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has initiated legal action against the Government on the grounds that it believes the Secretary of State failed to carry out a lawful consultation on its proposals for community pharmacy.
PSNC has written to the Committee expressing concern that until the legal action is resolved, the Minister may feel constrained in the evidence he can offer to the Committee. Bearing in mind the concern expressed by PSNC, and not wanting to be limited by the legal action in exploring the issues associated with the Government's proposed changes to the arrangements for community pharmacy, the Committee has decided to postpone the session to a date in the new year, to be decided depending on the progress of the legal action.
A further announcement about the date of the session will be made in due course.
Plans for community pharmacy reform
The aim of the session will be to consider the Government's plans for reform of community pharmacy, which were announced to the House on 20 October, and the conclusions of the Independent Review of Community Pharmacy Clinical Services chaired by Richard Murray, which is expected to report shortly.
Further information
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