Review Steering Group (RSG) is inviting all community pharmacy contractors, LPCs and trade body members and representatives to attend a series of focus groups and workshops and share their views on how community pharmacy representation and support could operate in the future.
The feedback will be used by the group to develop and evolve "potential options" for how community pharmacy representation and support could operate in the future to draft a plan that will be shared in advance, the RSG said in a statement.
It added that these options will be the subject of further consultation in September when contractors and LPC representatives will be invited to consult further, ahead of a wider engagement with the entire sector.
The timings of the focus groups are based on feedback from contractors and LPCs.
For contractors, the RSG has offered evening meetings at a later start time, or an option to attend one of two ‘Express Sessions’ at lunchtime.
For LPCs, it has offered a range of mostly daytime events for the LPC focus groups, with an option to attend an evening meeting.
Contractors or Contractor representatives, including the Contractor Forum focus groups:
Tuesday 3rd August 9.30am – 11am
Tuesday 3rd August 7.30pm – 9pm
LPC and PSNC members focus groups:
Friday 30th July 9.30am – 11am
Friday 30th July 11am – 12.30pm
Monday 2nd August 9.30am – 11am
Monday 2nd August 11am – 12.30pm
Wednesday 4th August 11am – 12.30pm
Wednesday 4th August 7.30pm – 9pm
In addition to these focus groups directly with contractors and LPC representatives, the RSG will also be meeting with the trade bodies such as AIMp, CCA and NPA in July to capture their inputs and views on behalf of their respective memberships.
Cat Smith, Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre