§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide pharmacies with broadband connectivity; and if he will make a statement. [83902]
§ Mr. LammyThere are no specific plans to provide broadband connectivity to pharmacies. Hospital pharmacies will have access to the broadband networking arrangements for hospitals being put in place as part of the national health service modernisation programme. Community pharmacists are of course part of the NHS "family", but apart from those participating in the electronic transfer of prescriptions pilots do not make use of the national NHS network.
The broadband networking plans set out in the Government's "21st century IT" strategy document focus on the needs of NHS trusts and general practitioner practices. As stated in the strategy document, it is anticipated that the trials will continue to grow and involve a sizeable number of GPs and pharmacists with a natural migration into rollout. This project will create greater connectivity to NHSnet for pharmacists allowing the access to the benefits that this service provides. We will review the need for broadband access to pharmacies as the strategy develops.