EXCLUSIVE

The all-party pharmacy group (APPG) will make the decriminalisation of dispensing errors a government priority, chair Kevin Barron MP has pledged.

Sir Kevin said he was "disappointed" that decriminalisation has still not happened, having been "more or less told" it was a government aim before the general election in May.

He had conversations with both Conservative and Labour MPs about the planned legislation to provide a legal defence from criminal prosecution for pharmacists and their staff, and it “looked like” the law was going to be passed by parliament, he told C+D in an exclusive interview yesterday (September 14). 

“I thought it would be high up on their agenda now, but it isn’t. That is something we will have to pick up,” Sir Kevin stressed.

The programme board set up to “rebalance" pharmacy regulation revealed last month that it did not expect the necessary health bill to be taken before parliament before next spring, following numerous delays to decriminalisation. Sir Kevin vowed to try to use his influence to ensure the bill receives support from MPs.

“If ministers say it is something they intend to do, I will try and make sure that all sides of parliament know what [the bill] is about,” he added.

Last month, the APPG said it was pleased that the government is “committed to removing the spectre of pharmacists having a criminal record for making an honest mistake”. But it had named decriminalisation as an aim for the government's first 100 days in power, which have now passed, and stressed that “now is the time” to change the law.
 

What other issues should the APPG focus on?

We want to hear your views, but please express them in the spirit of a constructive, professional debate. For more information about what this means, please click here to see our community principles and information