Insider's view: Pharmacy bodies responding to the cuts
NPA/Pharmacy Voice board member Mike Hewitson gives C+D the lowdown on how organisations are fighting the funding cuts
"The only people who can officially consult with [the government] on money and the actual contract is the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) – everyone else is just giving ideas. Each of the consultees to the government letter on December 17 [PSNC, Pharmacy Voice, RPS] are being spoken to separately.
"We’ll always have different ideas about how we as individuals can best achieve the right outcomes. I’m not against [PSNC’s proposals] in any way, shape or form. I’d say we need to be quite ambitious as a sector.
"There are loads of things in the pipeline. If we’re going to step this up to the next level, then it’s about trying to get patient and public support for pharmacy and pharmacy services.
"The next big thing is about trying to mobilise that support and turn it into some action. There are going to be lots of opportunities for people to get involved over the next few weeks and months."
How should pharmacy bodies respond to the cuts?
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