The Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) has today welcomed the recommendations for consultation on the NHS (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013.
The Department of Health and Social Care has recently published their Post-implementation report on the NHS (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013. In this document they have highlighted their findings and made a number of recommendations to amend the 2013 Regulations and supporting guidance, in order to mitigate unintended consequences. The CCA was engaged as a stakeholder throughout the review process and as such we welcome both the report’s recommendations for consultation and the approach taken.
The CCA supports all efforts to improve the flexibility of regulation in our evolving sector and to reduce unnecessary burden on contractors. Efforts to improve consistency in interpretation and implementation of the Regulations at a local level, and to mitigate the unintended consequences to patients and pharmacy teams that we have previously identified, are also welcome.
Malcolm Harrison, Chief Executive, has commented “I think that it has been very helpful and somewhat refreshing that the Department has effectively and consistently engaged with stakeholders throughout this Review process. In particular, it is reassuring to see that our concerns around prescription direction have been considered and reflected in the proposals for consultation, as this is something our members have been concerned about for some time. We look forward to continuing to work closely with DHSC on these important matters.”