In Event news

Follow this topic

Bookmark

Record learning outcomes

LPCs: to merge or not to merge?

Visitors to last month's Pharmacy Show heard a first-hand account of an LPC merger from the secretary of Community Pharmacy Lancashire, Mark Collins.

East and Central Lancashire LPCs had previously decided against a merger but had begun working more collaboratively via a joint steering group to avoid unnecessary duplication across the area. But six months into the NHS reforms a request for their joint terms of reference prompted the merger.

Mr Collins praised the support available from PSNC on how to conduct the merger. Contractors voted unanimously at an EGM to support the merger and the new LPC represented 389 contractors.

Benefits to the merged body included financial savings and greater resources. €The key to merging is to ensure that the contractors get the best out of their LPC.€ NHS reforms had meant that commissioning was more complicated, networking was more important, more experts were required and overall LPC workload had increased. This could all now be managed without increasing costs to contractors.

Community Pharmacy Lancashire had been awarded £120,000 funding to roll out the Healthy Living Pharmacy concept locally, which wouldn't have been possible without the merger. €We can also afford to bring in experts such as in commissioning or finance. We're forced to use IT more. We're a more efficient organisation doing the best for contractors.€

Mr Collins warned those considering a merger to carefully consider employee and employer legislation. He suggested hiring the services of an HR expert, such as the PSNC-recommended Irenicon.