§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to expand the definition of pharmaceutical services in order to use the expertise of pharmacists in matters like health education, supervision of dispensing in residential homes, preventive work, and services to people in sheltered accommodation in Wales.
§ Mr. GristThe Government's policy on developing the role of the community pharmacist was set out in chapter 6 of "Promoting Better Health" (Cm 249).
The majority of the measures proposed in the White Paper have now been implemented. For example, new allowances have been introduced for pharmacists who participate in schemes to provide advice to residential homes, and also for those who maintain records of medicines supplied to certain patients on long-term medication. Funds have also been made available to support the enhancement of the health educational role of the community pharmacist.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he intends to make in Wales to cover the responsibilities currently undertaken by the rural dispensing committee.
§ Mr. GristIn line with the new management arrangements for family practitioner services, it is 611W proposed that family practitioner committees will take all decisions of first instance in relation to dispensing. We shall be consulting the professions about the detailed arrangements for dealing with appeals as soon as possible.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the income of pharmacies(a) in Wales generally and (b) in rural areas of Wales comes from dispensing.
§ Mr. GristPharmacies' income can be derived from a variety of sources in addition to the dispensing of NHS prescriptions. The only information held centrally refers to NHS payments. In 1988–89 pharmacies in Wales received £143 million for providing pharmaceutical services.
No separate statistics are collected centrally in respect of rural pharmacies.