Local authorities take an enlarged role in regional healthcare

Release date: 10/12/2010

Local authorities look set to take the lead role in overseeing community pharmacy when PCTs are abolished under the government's NHS reforms.

Ministers have already indicated that local authorities will be tasked with taking control of developing pharmaceutical and other needs via health and wellbeing boards, with critical input into decisions on the commissioning of services and new pharmacy contracts.

Specialist healthcare lawyer and Harvey Ingram partner Roy Botterill, has been following developments.

He says: "It now looks likely that the responsibility for the development of local pharmaceutical needs will pass from PCTs, when they are abolished, to health and wellbeing boards in local authorities.

"The detail and complex regulatory duties this will impose on local authorities and suppliers to the healthcare sector is still under discussion and unclear, but getting a top-notch team of advisers on hand is going to be vital.

"From the outset the new regime will shift responsibility, regulation and accountability away from the PCTs and will probably lead to sub-contracting from Local authorities to others, resulting in a seismic shift in everything from organisational reforms, contracting, procurement and governance matters, along with a host of miscellaneous other legal and accounting issues.

"The government has also made it clear that any further investment in service developments will need to be supported by a robust business case, critical planning and be in keeping with the demands of the comprehensive spending review."