Commentary on Sections Pharmaceutical Services in England
283.Sections 25 to 29 introduce changes to the way in which PCTs determine applications by contractors to provide NHS pharmaceutical services [DN: Does this term need to be defined in the Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations?] and also introduce new provisions enabling PCTs to take action against contractors for breaches of the arrangements for providing those services.
284.In addition, the sections amend current legislation concerning the provision of local pharmaceutical services (LPS) contracts enabling PCTs to provide services under LPS schemes in prescribed circumstances. Under existing legislation, PCTs can only commission such services.
285.These measures follow a Department of Health consultation in the autumn of 2008 on a series of proposals to amend the structure and legislation of NHS pharmaceutical services, following publication of the Government’s White Paper Pharmacy in England: Building on strengths – delivering the future published in April 2008. A report of the outcome of that consultation, which concerned the measures contained within this Act, was published on 16th January 2009 and is available on the Department of Health website.