High Court agrees to assess pharmacy funding cuts next year
The High Court has given the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) permission for a judicial review of the pharmacy funding cuts, the negotiator has confirmed.
The hearing is scheduled for the second week of February, PSNC said.
However, the judge “has indicated” that if the government asks for a later hearing date, then “the question will arise of whether there should be a delay in the implementation of [the funding cuts] while the case is ongoing”, PSNC added.
The negotiator announced earlier this month that it had sought a judicial review, on the grounds that the Secretary of State “failed to carry out a lawful consultation” on the proposals for the sector.
Two weeks later, the National Pharmacy Association announced that it is also planning to take its legal challenge against the cuts to the High Court.
Read C+D’s exclusive interview with PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe – where she explains why its legal challenge shows it has reached the “end of the road” with the Department of Health – here.
How will the funding cuts affect you?