§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many community pharmacists there were in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) at the latest date for which figures are available; [22099]
(2) what assessment he has made of the number of community pharmacists who will leave the profession in the next financial year. [22092]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 13 December 2001]We do not collect information on the number of community pharmacists. However, the number of community pharmacies in England providing NHS pharmaceutical services during the years 1997 to 2001 is shown in the table.
We do not expect the number of community pharmacies to change significantly in the year ending 31 March 2002.
As at 31 March Number of community pharmacies 1997 9,775 1998 9,781 1999 9,785 2000 9,775 2001 9,774
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many small pharmacies have(a) closed and (b) opened in each of the last four years in England. [23396]
§ Ms BlearsFigures for the number of pharmacies dispensing national health service prescriptions which have opened and closed in the last four years are in the table. We do not collect information on the size of these pharmacies.
Year Number of pharmacies opening Number of pharmacies closing 1997–98 46 42 1998–99 46 51 1999–2000 23 33 2000–01 36 37
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pharmacies dispensing NHS prescriptions there were in Dorset in 1997; and how many there are now. [23395]
§ Ms BlearsAt 31 March 1997 there were 139 pharmacies dispensing national health service prescriptions in Dorset. There are now 136.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the price per script paid to NHS pharmacy contractors for the first 1,700 items dispensed each month in(a)1992, (b) October 2001 and (c)now. [23397]
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§ Ms Blears[holding answer 17 December 2001]Between January and October 1992, the remuneration paid to pharmacy contractors in England for dispensing the first 1,700 prescriptions each month consisted of a fee of 151.2 pence for each of the first 1,500 prescriptions and 71.5 pence for each of the remainder. In addition, pharmacies were paid an on-cost of 5 per cent. of the basic price of the items dispensed.
In November and December 1992, the equivalent fee for each of the first 1,700 prescriptions was 159 pence, and the on-cost was 2.5 per cent.
In October 2001, the fee for each prescription dispensed was 97.5 pence. There was no on-cost, but the large majority of pharmacies dispensing 1,600 or more prescriptions in any month were eligible for a professional allowance of £1,460 per month.
The equivalent fee is now 87.4 pence. The professional allowance has not changed.
In each case, these figures exclude fees and allowances paid only for certain types of prescription.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that the NHS should pay pharmacy contractors within 30 days of receipt of claims for the supply of drugs; and if he will make a statement. [23398]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 17 December 2001]We have no plans to alter the current timetable for paying pharmacy contractors in England for the national health service prescriptions they dispense.