Pharmacy Organisations Given Permission to Appeal High Court Decision on Cuts to Community Pharmacy Budget
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) and the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) have both been given permission to lodge an appeal against the High Court decision which found the planned budget cuts for community pharmacy legal.
After the initial cases brought by the NPA and PSNC were dismissed by the High Court judge in a controversial ruling whereby Justice Collins issued some serious criticisms of the Government, it was felt by many that any hope of this going further was well and truly over. Not so fast.
The permission to appeal, and recent confirmation from the legal team acting for the NPA that papers for the appeal have already been filed at the Court of Appeal, has once again sparked the attention of the industry and signals that the fight is far from over.
However, with any appeal hearing not expected for at least several months, we will be kept in suspense a little longer it seems, so watch this space.
Although there will be an appeal, it is positive news to see constructive noises coming from the NPA and PSNC. Ian Strachan, Chair of the NPA, said: "We continue to believe that constructive dialogue is the best way forward for all concerned. Given the criticism in the original verdict of the government’s approach, and following the appointment of a new ministerial team at the Department of Health, there is a window of opportunity to discuss a new and better way forward for the sector, the wider NHS and the patients we serve. It has always been - and remains - our preference to pursue our objectives through dialogue rather than through legal channels. However, we will do whatever is necessary in the interests of NPA members and their patients."