LONDON, May 9 /PRNewswire/ --

- Statement

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) today called for the Government to undertake impact assessments in its planning of polyclinics.

Director of Practice Quality and Improvement at the RPSGB, David Pruce said:

"Pharmacists in England are keen to play a larger role in healthcare provision for the future and the RPSGB believes this is vital to ensure that patients, the public and particularly those classed as vulnerable are able to choose the healthcare services they need.

"For that reason we are calling for guaranteed impact assessments to be carried out in every locality where there are plans to introduce polyclinics."

The RPSGB has identified clear social, economic and healthcare factors which should be considered in an assessment:

Economic: Impact on the sustainability of communities. This is wider than the potential viability of local pharmacy services, but also could call into question local amenities.

Social: The transport links if local services are centralised. The impact on carers, families, and the vulnerable sections of the community who are often the least able to travel.

Healthcare: Local access to primary care for patients, carers, and the public.

For media enquiries please contact the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain's Public Relations Unit on +44(0)20-7572-2335