§ Dr. Edmund Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the requirements governing the public availability of pharmacy services at times outside normal shop opening hours.
§ Dr. VaughanChemists are independent traders who for the purpose of providing NHS pharmacy services, enter into a contract with their local family practitioner committee and, by so doing, agree to accept the hours of service required by that FPC. Hours of service agreements can vary from one area to another, depending on local needs, but the usual requirement for a pharmacy service outside shop opening hours is the provision of a rota service of up to one hour's duration. This service is undertaken after closing on weekdays to cover the period of doctors' evening surgeries and also on early closing days, Sundays and public holidays. In a single or two-chemist district, where a rota service is not practicable, the family practitioner committee may require a period in lieu of rota, also of up to one hour's duration, to be undertaken. Outside of rota periods, there is a voluntary out-of-hours call service undertaken by pharmacists who are prepared to dispense prescriptions endorsed "urgent" by the prescriber. There are also some late-opening pharmacies which independently choose to stay open beyond the hours required by the agreement with the local FPC.