Oliver Colville MP visits King Street Pharmacy in Plymouth

Philip Dawes pharmacist and proprietor of a small chain of pharmacies in Plymouth and Mark Stone representing Devon LPC met with Oliver Colvile, the newly elected Conservative MP in Plymouth. The group discussed the pharmacy's role in the new liberated NHS, and concerns that local pharmacists had about the lack of formal representation on GP commissioning boards.

Philip showed Oliver around the busy pharmacy in Keyham while discussing the future role for pharmacy in the new NHS. Philip stated that the reconfiguration of the NHS was an opportunity to allow pharmacy services to be more integrated into primary care and disease pathways. Oliver was very interested in the way that pharmacy could help the NHS achieve the £20bn worth of QIPP savings required over the next four years. He wanted to know more on how pharmacy would be able to improve outcomes on long term diseases like asthma by ensuring patients use their medicines correctly.

Mark informed Oliver about the recent Bow report on "Delivering enhanced pharmacy services", and that to get the full benefit of the opportunities identified in the document for the NHS, pharmacy would need to have a formal input into the GP commissioning consortia.

Oliver asked both pharmacists to keep him informed of local issues, and that he would be very willing to come and speak about the upcoming health bill. He also said that he would support the LPC in getting its message across in the House of Commons.