§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase co-operation between general practitioners and pharmacists; and if he will make a statement. [43040]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 18 March 2002]: Many of the initiatives in "Pharmacy in the Future—Implementing the NHS Plan"—our programme for pharmacy published 310W in September 2000—will encourage greater co-operation between general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists. These include repeat dispensing, medicines management and extending prescribing responsibilities. There are also many local initiatives where GPs and pharmacists are already collaborating to improve patient care, including prescribing advice, support for smoking cessation and anti-coagulant treatment monitoring.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce measures to increase the role of the local pharmacy in treating minor ailments. [43041]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 18 March 2002]: "Pharmacy in the Future—Implementing the NHS Plan"—our programme for pharmacy published in September 2000—sets out a number of measures for increasing the role of community pharmacists in treating minor ailments. Successive winter campaigns have reinforced the message that in many cases the best course of action is to "Ask Your Pharmacist". All NHS sites will be able to refer callers to their local pharmacy, where appropriate, by the end of 2002. We are also committed to the availability of a wider range of medicines over the counter.