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Medicines and pharmacy
The pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, medicines, prescribing and prescription forms, NHS charges and exemptions, local pharmaceutical services (LPS) pilots and local pharmaceutical budgets.
Pharmacy in England: building on strengths - delivering the future
Published: 3 April 2008
This White Paper sets out a vision for building on the strengths of pharmacy, using that capacity and capability to deliver further improvements in pharmaceutical services over the coming years as part of an overall strategy to ensure safe, effective, fairer and more personalised patient care.
- Pharmacy in England: building on strengths - delivering the future
- Download written ministerial statement (PDF, 18K)
- Download press release: Millions to benefit from improved access to treatment, check-ups and health advice from pharmacists (PDF, 37K)
- Download video: An overview of the White Paper - Dr. Keith Ridge, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (MPG, 79106K)
Community pharmacy in England
Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are responsible for securing NHS pharmaceutical services in their area. This section contains guidance on the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005, the contractual framework for community pharmacy, and Local Pharmaceutical Services (LPS) contracts.
Industry sponsorship
Supporting the UK pharmaceutical and medical devices industry and providing a channel for communication between the Government and the industry.
Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme
Ensuring the NHS has access to good quality branded medicines at reasonable prices, and promoting a healthy, competitive pharmaceutical industry.
Generic medicines
Long-term arrangements for the reimbursement of medicines marketed without a brand name.
Medicines' supply
Guidance on discontinuing medicines, including who should be notified and consulted and best practice on medicines with limited supply.
Prescriptions and prescribing
Prescription forms, charges and exemptions, prescribing software, and roles and responsibilities in the prescription system.
Local pharmaceutical budgets
Helping PCTs earmark a realistic amount of their unified allocation for primary care prescribing by GPs and nurses.
Choosing health through pharmacy
A resource for pharmacists, PCTs, NHS Trusts and public health organisations to help maximise the contribution of pharmacists, their staff and the premises in which they work to improve health and reduce inequalities.
Pharmacy meets public health
Educational resources by PharmacyHealthLink in association with DH to help pharmacy staff give general health advice and more in-depth discussions for healthy lifestyle interventions.
Additional links
Related links
- National framework for Pharmacists with Special Interests
- A vision for pharmacy in the new NHS
- Pharmacy in the future: implementing the NHS Plan
- Guidance for the development of consultant pharmacist posts
- Primary care contracting
- Pharmacy section on the primary care contracting website (opens new window)
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