Sandwell pharmacies urge PCT to block health centre opening

The PCT has control over the control of entry. They can reject any application from a pharmacist outside the neighbourhood. They should state that is their intention.

Incorrect.

Yes but PCT can not stop a 100 hour pharmacy, Why do the PCT not put the pharmacy for exisiting pharmacy providers local to the area?? But then again healthcare pharmacies have very high rent.

With respect, it is called competition. Why do you object to it. It will create jobs for employee pharmacists. It will reduce the workload for existing pharmacists. It is win-win for employees. Contractors will lose, but a business must be subject to competition.

We all know what the fuss is about. No one wants to lose script volume and so attempt to deceive the PCT and others by suggesting pharmacies will close. I can guarantee no local pharmacy will close as i know what the figures constitute in terms of remuneration. If I can run a 100 hr pharamacy at a profit at less than the script volume most of these 40hr contracts do then i dont see how their arguments can stand up. They are lucky that pharmacy is subject to strict regulation on competition: if it was any other business they wont have that safeguard. Besides, i dont think anyone would open up if the business didn't at least seem viable. So, stop clutching at straws guys, you wont be closing down. In fact, you are more likely to improve your service provision in order to retain custom...and that's what i call BUSINESS!!!!!

The PCT can set up a tender process and timeline that requires a contract to be in place. This would exclude opportunistic 100 hour applications, which the PCT can take up to 4 months to process up to preliminary consent.

Din, I agree with you and support competition. I had my 'consultant head on', where I often act like the legal profession and support the point of view of the person I am representing. I have no personal or work interest in this case so my unbiased point of view is to agree with you.