Website of the Department of Health

College of Pharmacy Practice

The College's aim is to promote excellence in pharmacy practice. It has set up a public health interest group (PHIG). The College accredits a wide range of training and educational materials for pharmacists and their support staff.

• The College of Pharmacy Practice (opens new window)

Faculty of Public Health (FPH)

Promotes, for the public benefit, the advancement of knowledge in public health and develops public health to maintain the highest possible standards of professional practice.

• Faculty of Public Health (opens new window)

General Medical Services (GMS)

GMS are services provided by general practitioners and their staff.

Local delivery plan (LDP)

LDPs are the main component of the NHS planning system. PCTs are responsible for these three-year plans, which describe health and service improvement in their area. SHAs bring together PCT LDPs into a comprehensive plan for their area.

Local Strategic Partnership (LSP)

An LSP brings together at a local level the different parts of the public sector, as well as the private, business, community and voluntary sectors, so that different initiatives and services support each other. LSPs are central to tackling health inequalities.

National Pharmaceutical Association (NPA)

The NPA is the national body for the vast majority of community pharmacy owners in the UK. Its NHS Service Development Department has a wide range of resources on service development and the Education and Training Department provides training for pharmacists and their staff.

• The National Pharmaceutical Association (NPA) (opens new window)

National Prescribing Centre (NPC)

The NPC was formed by the Department of Health to promote and support high-quality, cost-effective prescribing and medicines management across the NHS. It hosts the national medicines management services programme. The NPC provides a range of resources, including therapeutic workshops, and resources on prescribing and medicines management.

• The National Prescribing Centre (NPC) (opens new window)

National Service Frameworks (NSFs)

NSFs are long-term strategies for improving specific areas of care. They set measurable goals within set timeframes. They bring together the best evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness with the views of service users to determine the best ways of providing particular services.

NHS Institute for Learning, Skills and Innovation

This new organisation will encompass some of the work currently undertaken by the Modernisation Agency, the NHS Leadership Centre and the NHS University.

NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust (NHS LIFT)

NHS LIFT is a public-private partnership to improve the primary care estate and assist the regeneration of local communities, through the establishment of LIFT companies.

Patient Group Directions (PGDs)

PGDs are written instructions for the supply or administration of medicines to groups of patients who may not be individually identified before presentation for treatment by named health professionals (HSC 2000/026). For more information about PGDs see:

• The National Prescribing Centre (NPC) (opens new window)

Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC)

The PSNC is recognised by the Secretary of State as representative of community pharmacy on NHS matters. It is the negotiating body for pharmacy contractors. It provides advice on service development.

• Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (opens new window)

PharmacyHealthLink

PharmacyHealthLink supports the promotion of health through pharmacy by working with Government, health professionals, pharmacists and the public. Works in partnership with other bodies to produce guidance, runs workshops, conferences, etc.

• PharmacyHealthLink (opens new window)

Royal Institute of Public Health (RIPH)

The RIPH is an independent organisation promoting public health and hygiene through education and training, information, quality testing and policy development.

• The Royal Institute of Public Health (opens new window)

Royal Society for the Promotion of Health (RSPH)

The RSPH aims to promote continuous improvement in human health world-wide through education, communication and the encouragement of scientific research.

• The Royal Society for the Promotion of Health (opens new window)