moved Amendment No. 76:"Page 25, line 24, leave out from ““time”” to end of line 26." The noble Baroness said: With this clause, which sets out provisions for the ““responsible pharmacist””, we return to the same territory just explored by the noble Baroness, Lady Murphy, in her amendments. I listened with care to the Minister’s reply...

moved Amendment No. 76:"Page 25, line 24, leave out from ““time”” to end of line 26." The noble Baroness said: With this clause, which sets out provisions for the ““responsible pharmacist””, we return to the same territory just explored by the noble Baroness, Lady Murphy, in her amendments. I listened with care to the Minister’s reply...

Let me begin by clearly stating the Government’s position. We believe that the general rule should be one responsible pharmacist for one pharmacy. This will allow the pharmacist to exercise fully his or her important responsibility to secure the safe and effective running of the pharmacy. We see a pharmacist...

Let me begin by clearly stating the Government’s position. We believe that the general rule should be one responsible pharmacist for one pharmacy. This will allow the pharmacist to exercise fully his or her important responsibility to secure the safe and effective running of the pharmacy. We see a pharmacist...

I thank the Minister for that reply. I know that he was trying to be helpful. I have never been to Glastonbury, so I cannot comment on that, but I would be astonished if so many people have been gathering there over all these years without appropriate medical cover. I do not find the example entirely...

I thank the Minister for that reply. I know that he was trying to be helpful. I have never been to Glastonbury, so I cannot comment on that, but I would be astonished if so many people have been gathering there over all these years without appropriate medical cover. I do not find the example entirely...

I think that I could take those ideas away to consider for the Report stage and I am grateful to the Minister for his detailed remarks. I would simply say to him that there is consultation and there is consultation. Of course it is reassuring to know that at least some consultation will take...

I think that I could take those ideas away to consider for the Report stage and I am grateful to the Minister for his detailed remarks. I would simply say to him that there is consultation and there is consultation. Of course it is reassuring to know that at least some consultation will take...

In speaking to the amendment I shall also speak to Amendments Nos. 88 and 89, which are grouped with it. I share many of the noble Earl’s concerns. I have looked at this clause several times in an effort to understand why it is necessary. I can see that a primary care trust might wish to...

In speaking to the amendment I shall also speak to Amendments Nos. 88 and 89, which are grouped with it. I share many of the noble Earl’s concerns. I have looked at this clause several times in an effort to understand why it is necessary. I can see that a primary care trust might wish to...

I take the point that access to over-the-counter medicines is an important issue; that is not in any doubt. However, I still genuinely question whether this clause as a whole is necessary. It has been put to me very forcefully by those involved in the pharmacy profession that in practice there are...

I take the point that access to over-the-counter medicines is an important issue; that is not in any doubt. However, I still genuinely question whether this clause as a whole is necessary. It has been put to me very forcefully by those involved in the pharmacy profession that in practice there are...

I thank the Minister for that reply, but can he understand that some of us have witnessed the demise of pharmacies in the past? In my area, it happened principally because the supermarkets took them over, only for the supermarket at a subsequent stage to remodel its building and for those...

I thank the Minister for that reply, but can he understand that some of us have witnessed the demise of pharmacies in the past? In my area, it happened principally because the supermarkets took them over, only for the supermarket at a subsequent stage to remodel its building and for those...

I congratulate Members of the Committee on ensuring that we have had a good debate on palliative care during the course of the Bill. I pay tribute to the persistence of the noble Earl, Lord Howe, on the subject of hospices—particularly children’s hospices—and his willingness to keep plugging away. I also acknowledge and recognise...

I congratulate Members of the Committee on ensuring that we have had a good debate on palliative care during the course of the Bill. I pay tribute to the persistence of the noble Earl, Lord Howe, on the subject of hospices—particularly children’s hospices—and his willingness to keep plugging away. I also acknowledge and recognise...

On that latter point we are, as I have tried to say in my rapid canter through this complex and important subject area, taking the end-of-life issues forward through the end-of-life networks that are being established. They are a way forward in this area and a good way of spreading good...

On that latter point we are, as I have tried to say in my rapid canter through this complex and important subject area, taking the end-of-life issues forward through the end-of-life networks that are being established. They are a way forward in this area and a good way of spreading good...

Amendments Nos. 83 to 85 seek to amend Clause 33 so that the Secretary of State may set charges only by means of an order rather than by directions to primary care trusts. The noble Earl has said that the reason for the amendments is to give Parliament the opportunity to scrutinise the level of...

Amendments Nos. 83 to 85 seek to amend Clause 33 so that the Secretary of State may set charges only by means of an order rather than by directions to primary care trusts. The noble Earl has said that the reason for the amendments is to give Parliament the opportunity to scrutinise the level of...

moved Amendment No. 83:"Page 28, line 31, leave out from ““may”” to ““to”” in line 32 and insert ““by order make provision for a Primary Care Trust””" The noble Earl said: Amendments Nos. 83, 84 and 85 pick up a concern raised by the Select Committee on Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform, which commented that the power given...

moved Amendment No. 83:"Page 28, line 31, leave out from ““may”” to ““to”” in line 32 and insert ““by order make provision for a Primary Care Trust””" The noble Earl said: Amendments Nos. 83, 84 and 85 pick up a concern raised by the Select Committee on Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform, which commented that the power given...

I have added my name to these amendments for a slightly different reason. I wish to explore whether or not we have given sufficient consideration to the widening role of pharmacists in the personal prescription of drugs and whether, for example, the responsible pharmacist will need to be present when repeat prescriptions...

I have added my name to these amendments for a slightly different reason. I wish to explore whether or not we have given sufficient consideration to the widening role of pharmacists in the personal prescription of drugs and whether, for example, the responsible pharmacist will need to be present when repeat prescriptions...

Let me first respond to Amendment No. 80. I remind the Committee that Sections 10 and 52 of the Medicines Act as amended by Clause 25, together with Clause 31, already enable those activities that must be undertaken by a pharmacist, or be personally supervised by a pharmacist, to be specified by order. For example, we expect that...

Let me first respond to Amendment No. 80. I remind the Committee that Sections 10 and 52 of the Medicines Act as amended by Clause 25, together with Clause 31, already enable those activities that must be undertaken by a pharmacist, or be personally supervised by a pharmacist, to be specified by order. For example, we expect that...

moved Amendment No. 82:"Page 26, line 17, at end insert—" ““(   )   No regulations may be made under this section unless the Health Ministers have previously consulted such organisations as appear to them to be representative of persons providing pharmaceutical services.”” The noble Earl said: Our debates on the last few groups of amendments show...

moved Amendment No. 82:"Page 26, line 17, at end insert—" ““(   )   No regulations may be made under this section unless the Health Ministers have previously consulted such organisations as appear to them to be representative of persons providing pharmaceutical services.”” The noble Earl said: Our debates on the last few groups of amendments show...

That reply from the Minister provides clarity and a good measure of reassurance to those in the pharmacy profession who have spoken to me about these issues. I am grateful to him. For now, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendment No. 81 not moved.]

That reply from the Minister provides clarity and a good measure of reassurance to those in the pharmacy profession who have spoken to me about these issues. I am grateful to him. For now, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendment No. 81 not moved.]

I am happy to try to give a reassurance here. This part of the Bill inserts new sections into the Medicines Act 1968. Section 129(6) of that Act already imposes a statutory requirement for consultation with representative interests before making regulations. By virtue of that section, we already have a statutory obligation to...

I am happy to try to give a reassurance here. This part of the Bill inserts new sections into the Medicines Act 1968. Section 129(6) of that Act already imposes a statutory requirement for consultation with representative interests before making regulations. By virtue of that section, we already have a statutory obligation to...

moved Amendment No. 80:"Page 26, line 3, at end insert—" ““(   )   the activities which the responsible pharmacist must personally supervise whilst present on the premises,”” The noble Earl said: The amendment covers what activities the responsible pharmacist must personally supervise while on the pharmacy premises. Again, I have tabled this purely as a probing amendment....

moved Amendment No. 80:"Page 26, line 3, at end insert—" ““(   )   the activities which the responsible pharmacist must personally supervise whilst present on the premises,”” The noble Earl said: The amendment covers what activities the responsible pharmacist must personally supervise while on the pharmacy premises. Again, I have tabled this purely as a probing amendment....

The Government are committed to delivering, where appropriate, an increased volume and range of services outside hospital, and this commitment certainly applies to ophthalmic services. We are funding pilot projects that are testing model pathways for glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and low-vision services. These are due to be evaluated later...

The Government are committed to delivering, where appropriate, an increased volume and range of services outside hospital, and this commitment certainly applies to ophthalmic services. We are funding pilot projects that are testing model pathways for glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and low-vision services. These are due to be evaluated later...

I support my noble friend; I think he has put the case very succinctly. I am aware that the Government believe in evidence; we have some very good evidence from both Scotland and Wales, as well as the two pilot projects to which my noble friend referred. This would be a sensible move...

I support my noble friend; I think he has put the case very succinctly. I am aware that the Government believe in evidence; we have some very good evidence from both Scotland and Wales, as well as the two pilot projects to which my noble friend referred. This would be a sensible move...