COMMUNITY PHARMACIES DEFENDED

3.50.00pm GMT Fri 28th Mar 2003

The two local MPs, Dr Jenny Tonge and Dr Vince Cable, spoke up for community pharmacies today in the very first cross-departmental question time on Older People at Westminster.

Jenny Tonge said: "Community Pharmacists are the friends of older people. They know their patients and are the first point of access for the National Health Service. They are also the friend of local doctors who rely on them to help and advise."

"As the Vice Chair of the All Party Pharmacy Group I have fought for local pharmacies ever since I came into parliament and it was good to get assurances from Ministers that they had heard our pleas and would make sure the Department of Trade and Industry acted on them."

"Dr Vince Cable said: "I think we are on the way to winning on this issue. I raised it with Patricia Hewitt, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in Parliament this week. "

"She accepted that it would be damaging to have unbridled competition and I think she is unlikely to press ahead with the recommendation of the Competition authorities to have a "Free for All" in pharmacy services.