An independent review of how pharmacy contractors in England are represented nationally and locally was published last week (June 19).

The report recommended a drastic overhaul of PSNC, including changing its name tp Community Pharmacy England and restructuring the negotiating body as well as LPCs.

Despite the “considerable” changes recommended by the report, pharmacy organisations have been supportive on the whole of the suggestions.

CCA: “The scale of change is considerable”

Commenting on the review, CCA chief executive Malcom Harrison said the organisation “fully supports the overall focus of the report’s recommendations on improved governance and value for all contractors.”

“The scale of the change recommended is considerable and will take time to translate into action,” he added.

“Success will mean that all parts of our sector are fairly represented at a local and national level, and the right governance is in place to support the delivery of better value for money for contractors,” Mr Harrison explained.

AIMp “welcomes the findings”

AIMp chief executive Leyla Hannbeck said it “welcomes the findings” of Professor Wright’s review, which is “very thorough and detailed”.

“Over the coming weeks, we will be engaging with our members to discuss the proposals outlined in the report to plan our next steps and engage positively with the process,” she added.

NPA “won’t rush to judgement on the proposals”

Mark Lyonette, NPA chief executive, said the proposals “will amount to a radical overhaul of how community pharmacy is represented and supported in England” if adopted.

While a “great deal of thought” has gone into the report, which merits “serious consideration”, the NPA “won’t rush to judgement on the proposals”, he added.

It’s the NPA’s “job” to now “help independent pharmacies and local representatives of independent community pharmacy to examine the implications, and to anticipate any unintended consequences,” Mr Lyonette said.

“A key question for us is whether the changes proposed will deliver a better, more sustainable NHS contract for our members than they have now,” he added.

Professor Claire Anderson, Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) chair of the England board, said the organisation “looks forward to continuing to work with PSNC to improve the future for community pharmacy and the people they serve”.