Website of the Department of Health

Review of progress on reforms in England to the 'Control of Entry' system for NHS pharmaceutical contractors

The review of Control of Entry was announced to Parliament by Patricia Hewitt, the Secretary of State for Health, on 13 June 2006. The terms of reference are at Annex A.

The Department of Health has now completed its review and wishes to thank all those who have contributed to the report, particularly those who sent in responses to the consultation and attended public listening events in the summer of 2006.

The main report comprises:

• an analysis of the statistical data on community chemists, their applications to provide NHS services to NHS Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), PCT decisions and appeals and comment on the data; 
• an analysis of applications to PCTs and their decisions on pharmacies exempted since April 2005 from the control of entry requirements;
• a comparative analysis of summary historical data on NHS dispensing by community pharmacies, openings and closures, distances between pharmacies and opening hours;
• a commentary on the extent of the reforms’ economic impact to date;
  and
• a qualitative review of the reforms including the results of consultation and feedback from the listening events.
  

Annexes contain selected statistical data and other information collected during the course of the review as well as a summary of the consultation responses and the full feedback from the listening events.

• Review of progress on reforms to the Control of Entry system for NHS pharmaceutical contractors - report