To consider the following motion from Councillor Tindall given in accordance with Standing Orders:
‘Dacorum Borough Council believes
that local pharmacies are an intefgral
part of the Borough's Health Structure and that the Government's
plans in relation to the funding of local pharmacies
(a) threaten patient access to pharmacies and pharmacy services
throughout the Borough, especially in rural areas
(b) risk reducing services such as free delivery of prescription
drugs, family planning advice and advice on medicines and other
remedies
(c) will thereby put more pressure on GPs, hospitals and social
care, at odds with the strategies currently pursued by the NHS in
Hertfordshire.
We therefore:-
(a) call on the Government to abandon these cuts and maintain a
fully-funded community pharmacy service and
(b) urge the Leader of the Council to write to the two Dacorum
Members of Parliament requesting they lobby the Secretary of
State for Health accordingly.’
Decision:
The following motion was moved by Councillor Tindall and seconded by Councillor Link:
"Dacorum Borough Council
believes that local pharmacies are an integral part of the
Borough's Health Structure and that the Government's plans in
relation to the funding of local pharmacies
(a) threaten patient access to pharmacies and pharmacy services
throughout the Borough, especially in rural areas
(b) risk reducing services such as free delivery of prescription
drugs, family planning advice and advice on medicines and other
remedies
(c) will thereby put more pressure on GPs, hospitals and social
care, at odds with the strategies currently pursued by the NHS in
Hertfordshire.
We therefore
(a) call on the Government to abandon these cuts and maintain a
fully-funded community pharmacy service and
(b) urge the Leader of the Council to write to the two Dacorum
Members of Parliament requesting they lobby the Secretary of
State for Health accordingly."
The Mayor put the motion to the meeting and declared it lost.
Minutes:
The following motion was proposed by Councillor Tindall and seconded by Councillor Link.
"Dacorum Borough Council believes that
local pharmacies are an integral part of the Borough's Health
Structure and that the Government's plans in relation to the
funding of local pharmacies
(a) threaten patient access to pharmacies and pharmacy services
throughout the Borough, especially in rural areas
(b) risk reducing services such as free delivery of prescription
drugs, family planning advice and advice on medicines and other
remedies
(c) will thereby put more pressure on GPs, hospitals and social
care, at odds with the strategies currently pursued by the NHS in
Hertfordshire.
We therefore
(a) call on the Government to abandon these cuts and maintain a
fully-funded community pharmacy service and
(b) urge the Leader of the Council to write to the two Dacorum
Members of Parliament requesting they lobby the Secretary of
State for Health accordingly."
Councillor Tindall introduced the motion;
Councillor Ron Tindall said we are following over 2 million people who have signed the petition to persuade the government not to follow through with their proposals. Community Pharmacies are a key resource for communities with 95% of people living and working within 20 minutes of a pharmacy.
The proposals as currently presented will be another blow to the quality of care for patients facing cuts in their income from December, with further cuts expected in April next year. The cuts will be across the board and irrespective of the quality of service or patient choice. Reducing community pharmacy funding could result in the closure of up to one third of those pharmacies.
The proposed reduction could affect Public Health Prevention and the ability of pharmacies to deal with more clinical outcomes leaving GPs free to concentrate on clinically complicated ones and thus relieve pressure on hospitals. This at a time when pharmacies are being urged by the government to help to relieve GPs workload.
We ask that the Members of Parliament for Dacorum take note of the concerns, and lobby the government accordingly.
Questions & Answers
Councillor Williams had carefully considered the motion however did
not feel he could support it as it did not include any real facts,
only assumptions. He felt that pharmacies who embrace new services
will see an increase in income so they would survive the new
arrangements. He was unsure how this would affect the local
residents as there was not enough information to consider.
He felt that the Health Committee should discuss it and involve
relevant agencies to form a more in-depth discussion. He had every
sympathy, but no real facts and therefore he could not support the
motion based on assumptions. He felt it would be counter intuitive
to not enable pharmacies to deliver what the NHS say they
will.
Councillor Taylor was unable to support the motion. He was speaking as Vice-Chairman of the Health in Dacorum Committee, in the absence of the Chairman. He had been aware of this issue at the Health Committee and advised members that a letter had been sent to the Minister for Health asking for further information as it would be more concrete.
Councillor England would be supporting the motion as he felt the council should show pro-active support of local pharmacies.
Councillor Griffiths understood the importance of being proactive but felt that the motion did not give any facts. She had not personally heard from any concerned pharmacies and therefore was unaware if it would even be of benefit to them. She would therefore not be supporting the motion.
Following contributions from other councilllors, Councilllor Tindall stated that opposition to the motion based on a lack of information and assumptions was not valid as the information used had been taken from the statement of 1st November of the Hertfordshire Local Pharmaceutical Committee and also the response from the Local Government Association. He considered it fair to expect that one part of government would understand another.
The motion was put to a vote:
For: 4
Against: 33
Abstained: 5
The motion was lost.