IPF criticises government for exclusive Can Parent voucher pilot with Boots

I think if we all moved our business HQ's to Switzerland and reduce our corporation tax liabilities, maybe "out-of-touch" Dave will give us the contract.

Yet again, same old Torries, only wanting to deal with large organizations! Shame on you. Then again, Labour were the same.

Constructively speaking, I think IPF should have done a demographic study of the Boots Customer Base. From here, one could conclude, that the non-typical Boots customers would be disadvantaged adding to further inequalities. Well done Dave!!

I think waht needs to be understood is that the programme is at the piloting stage. Boots has a great reputation for delivering legendary customer service to all manner of customer demographic and as a trusted household name won't let anyone down.

Gerry, Boots do not have total coverage of the UK population (i.e. Boots does not serve every member of this population), hence the argument, that if the service is to be a success, then it needs to be accessible by the majority of the population, otherwise it in essence fosters in built inequalities; Which is why it makes sense to roll it out via a number of outlets. I am not saying that it is financially feasible to get it out to every independent pharmacy, but surely to get maximum coverage why not use Petrol Stations, Supermarket Chains etc.

I assume you are an employee of Alliance Boots.

Gerry,

You are not considering appying for a senior position in the PR department of Boots anytime soon are you? ;)

I agree with Gerry (and No, I do not work for Boots) - piloting a scheme in the best way to make it work means giving it to a provider who can deliver. Before the rest of us get upset about this, how well did pharmacy as a whole deliver MURs when first launched?
If (an it is a big IF) this scheme gets a national roll-out, then we should be looking to be involved at all levels across all pharmacies - by the way, is this actually providing a service which benefits patients and generates revenue for pharmacy, or would it be simply handing out vouchers? If it is the latter, it may well give pharmacy good PR but in a time when we are all looking to our margins, good PR doesn't pay the overdraft

Yes I do wonder what is involved, but you can be sure that there will be something in it for boots other than pure pr, either now or in the future.

I am sure and I hope that the IPF can do the same and secure something from the government for its members to promote these kind of community services in the future (for a fee).

Let's see how Boots fare, and if it does work on a "small" scale, roll it out to other pharmacies.

Did we not have a situation similar to this before - the NHS Quit Kits?

Rajive, he's probaly their delivery driver!!

Like some say it is a good thing that the Goverment have decided to pilot the scheme, rather than just dive in like the NHS Quit Kits. But I think that was more to do with the amount and level of information provided to Pharmacies before the launch.

It is a shame however, that they have exclusively chosen one Pharmacy company to pilot this scheme, despite the passionate PR ad for Boots they do not cover the entire demographic and it would have been better surely to pilot in selected PCT areas and use all Pharmacies i that area, regardless of which commercial organisation they belong to.

It does show the lobbying power of the large organisations.

This is wht we need the likes of RPS to bring Pharmacy Organisations together so we can sell Pharmacy and the various sectors as a whole, rather than just one organisation taking it all.