Background
The new contract for the payment of community pharmacists was implemented in April 2005. Reports in the pharmaceutical press have indicated that pharmacists may be having difficultly in implementing the requirements of the new contract due to the lack of support they have received1. This study aims to identify the main sources of support reported by community pharmacists.

Method
Semi-structured telephone interviews were used to elicit the views of pharmacists regarding the new pharmacy contract. One pharmacist in each community pharmacy in two PCT's in the North West of England was invited to participate in the study.

Findings
40 out of 54 (74%) pharmacists agreed to participate in the study. Differences were seen between the responses of independent contractors and pharmacists working for multiples. Two main sources of support were identified which were Primary Care Trust (PCT) and the employer.
1. PCT - Although many pharmacists felt they had good relationships with their PCT and could ask them for information the majority felt that the PCTs where not prepared and could not provide them with the information they required. As a result of this many pharmacists interviewed felt that the lack of support had adversely affected their ability to deliver the essential and advanced services, in particular Medicines Use Review (MUR).
2. Employer - Employers where seen as having offered a great deal of support and help to employed pharmacists and locums working for multiples. However, the employer support was not uniform across all pharmacies as three of the pharmacists stated that the lack of support from the employer had prevented them from delivering the MUR service. 19 of the pharmacists either worked for independent pharmacies or were owners of pharmacies and felt that they would have had better support if they had been employed by a multiple pharmacy.

Discussion
It is clear the main source of support and information was seen as the employer. Those working in small independent community pharmacy business felt disadvantaged compared to those in multiple pharmacies. Those in the multiple pharmacies felt more supported financially and better informed. This could lead to multiple pharmacies forging ahead in delivering the requirements of the new contract and in providing additional funded services which could lead to a decrease in the financial return for independent pharmacies. The lack of PCT knowledge about the new contract voiced by many pharmacists is perhaps related to the speed of implementation of the new contract but this could be a cause for concern as PCT's are now the accrediting and monitoring body for the new contract.

References

1. Gross, Z. New resource collates pharmacists' concerns about pharmacy contract, Pharmaceutical Journal; 274, 18 June 2005, 766