Clause 29 - Pilot schemes
Health and Social Care Bill
10:45 am
Mr John Denham (Minister of State, Department of Health; Southampton, Itchen, Labour)
I hope that I will not appear in ``Erskine May'' as having invented a new kind of response for Ministers. The disputes between the professions have been rumbling on since 1911. If they are working closely together towards a solution, I would rather respect their wishes and find a satisfactory way forward.
We would like patients to have the full skills of a pharmacist available to them, as well as those of a doctor. However, we acknowledge that there is support for dispensing practices in areas where full community pharmacy services cannot be made available.
GPs who are trying to develop innovative services can do so under PMS. A PMS practice may employ a pharmacist under a PMS contract. The issue of duplication will have to be dealt with when both PMS and LPS are moving towards a permanent regime. However, the current piloting system--especially given the central role of the health authority in both PMS and LPS schemes--provides an adequate mechanism to ensure that there is no duplication of activities in a given area. Although I understand the fears raised by the right hon. Gentleman, I am not convinced that they are quite as powerful as he has suggested.
Amendment agreed to.
Amendment made: No. 207, in page 30, line 4, leave out from beginning to end of line 8 and insert—
`( ) ``Practitioner dispensing services'' means the provision of drugs, medicines or listed appliances (within the meaning of section 41 of the 1977 Act) by a medical practitioner or dental practitioner to a patient of his pursuant to arrangements made by virtue of section 43(1) of the 1977 Act.'.—[Mr. Denham.]
Clause 29, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 30 ordered to stand part of the Bill.