C+D writes open letter to pharmacy minister Steve Brine
C+D's editor James Waldron has penned an open letter to pharmacy minister Steve Brine, urging him to address the sector's funding shortfall and decriminalise dispensing errors.
In the letter, sent by post and email to Mr Brine's office today (July 19), Mr Waldron urges the minister to "make his mark" by "pushing for a funding framework" for pharmacy that is "fair, realistic and sustainable".
Mr Waldron also calls on Mr Brine to "throw his weight" behind the decriminalisation of inadvertent dispensing errors – which is suffering ongoing setbacks – and for the Conservative Party to make good on its election pledge to "ensure community pharmacies can play a stronger role to keep people healthy outside hospital".
"To ensure that this is not seen as an empty campaign promise, I urge you to meet with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, the National Pharmacy Association, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and – most importantly – grassroots pharmacists to make this pledge a reality," says Mr Waldron.
"Pharmacy is a sector of healthcare professionals unsurpassed in their dedication to patient care," he adds. "But it is also a sector that feels severely undermined by its own government – and is in sore need of reassurance and support."
Mr Brine – who is MP for Winchester and Chandler’s Ford – replaced David Mowat as pharmacy minister, after the latter lost his seat in June’s general election.
You can read a full copy of Mr Waldron's letter here.
What do you think Mr Brine's priorities as pharmacy minister should be?