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Anticoagulant Clinics
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to set up anticoagulant clinics in community pharmacies. [137855]
Ms Stuart: In the "Pharmacy in the Future--Implementing the NHS Plan" (a copy of which is in the Library) we said that by 2004 all primary care groups and primary care trusts will have schemes in place so that people get more help from pharmacists in using their medicines. Monitoring patients' anticoagulant therapy, whether in community pharmacies or elsewhere, is one of many ways in which pharmacists may potentially help people get the most out of their medicines.
13 Nov 2000 : Column: 571W
Pharmacists
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to address the pay differentials between community pharmacists and hospital pharmacists. [137741]
Mr. Denham: For 1999-2000 lower graded hospital pharmacists were targeted for an enhanced pay award of up to 12 per cent. to help address recruitment and retention problems. Hospital pharmacists in common with other groups of non pay review body staff have been offered a pay increase of 3.25 per cent. for 2000-01, and for 2001-02 a minimum increase of RPIX at December 2000 plus 0.5 per cent. subject to progress on negotiations with the trade unions on proposals for modernising the National Health Service pay system.
The NHS does not directly employ or determine the pay of pharmacists working in community pharmacies.
13 Nov 2000 : Column: 572W
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce postgraduate structured training and experience programmes for pharmacists (a) for newly qualified graduates and (b) for existing community and hospital pharmacists. [137854]
Mr. Denham: A range of postgraduate training opportunities is available to both community and hospital pharmacists.
Hospital-acquired Infection
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress in combating hospital-acquired MRSA infections. [137985]
Mr. Denham: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) on 10 November 2000, Official Report, column 431W.