HC Deb 21 June 1977 vol 933 cc1072-3
2. Mr. Viggers

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the current arrangements for the provision of medical products at retail level.

Mr. Ennals

Despite a steady decline in the number of pharmacies since 1960, this does not appear so far to have caused serious difficulties for National Health Service patients. This is one of the matters which I am currently discussing with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.

Mr. Viggers

Is the Secretary of State aware that the decline from 14,000 pharmacists to 11,000 in the last 10 years is causing hardship, mainly to the elderly and to mothers with young children? Is he further aware that that decline of between 300 and 500 a year will continue unless his Department can agree terms of remuneration quickly?

Mr. Ennals

As I said, I have had recent meetings with the profession. On 16th June I met the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, and I expect to meet that committee again shortly. As for closures, although, as the hon. Gentleman says, there has been a steady decrease in the number of pharmacies, many closures are due to changes in population and redevelopment in cities, and so on. I have no evidence that this has been causing difficulties, but naturally I am concerned to ensure that there should not be a continuing decline. That is one of the issues under discussion with the industry.

Mr. Boscawen

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that pharmacists are desperately concerned about this situation and feel that their remuneration will not be satisfactory and that there will be continued closures of small pharmacies, particularly in villages and small estates, where grave social problems will be caused? Will he do something more effective about it when he speaks to the Pharmaceutical Society?

Mr. Ennals

One of the points that I made to the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee was our concern for small pharmacies. One of the questions on which we are exchanging views at present is whether, in terms of remuneration, there ought to be a system that is more beneficial to the small pharmacy than the large one. That is an issue that we are now considering.