Constitution
The Pharmacy Practice Committee (PPC) is a Committee of the Health Board, with delegated responsibility for considering applications received to join the Board’s Pharmaceutical List. The Committee is constituted under Schedule 4 of the General Pharmaceutical Services (Scotland) Regulations 2009 as amended.
Committee comprises 7 members:
- Chair (Non-Executive Member of the NHS Board)
- 3 x Lay Members
- 1 x Non-Contractor Pharmacist Member
(whose name is not included in any pharmaceutical list and who is not the employee of a person whose name is so listed) - 2 x Contractor Pharmacist Members
(each of whom is included in a pharmaceutical list or is an employee of a person whose name is so listed)
Paragraph 2 of Schedule 4 gives provisions on who can be members. Lay Members cannot be, nor previously have been a doctor, dentist, ophthalmic optician or a pharmacist, or an employee of a person who is a doctor, dentist, ophthalmic optician or pharmacist.
Commitment
Applications are held by oral hearing where no previous applications have been received for that particular post-code. In the past, this has resulted in the Committee meeting on an ad hoc basis when the need arose. Currently the level of applications is increasing and the intention from 2022 is to schedule meetings on a twice monthly basis to ensure applications are heard in a timely manner. Lay Members will not be required to attend every meeting. We are seeking to recruit sufficient numbers to ensure that the commitment is no more than quarterly.
Committee Members are encouraged to undertake a site visit to the area where the proposed premises are situated in advance of the PPC Meeting.
Following the covid pandemic in 2020/21 PPC Meetings have been held virtually via Microsoft Teams. This is likely to be the case for quite some time. PPC Meetings normally commence at 10am. The applicant and interested parties are in attendance from the start. Depending on the submissions received, and the number of parties attending the oral hearing, the meeting can extend to 5pm. There may be a need for the Committee to meet again the following day, this is likely to be a virtual meeting via Microsoft Teams, and can last up to 4 hours. Guidance and support on the use of Microsoft Teams is provided in advance.
PPC papers are distributed at least seven days in advance of the meeting. Members are expected to have made themselves familiar with the content of the papers, and to have formed questions for the applicant and interested parties.
Expenses
Members can claim for travelling and incidental expenses incurred during the execution of their duties. Claims should be submitted following each meeting.
Role of Lay Member
The Lay Members of the PPC bring with them local knowledge and a service user’s perspective. They apply these skills to the decision making process of the Committee ensuring the “voice of the public” is represented. By balancing the views of the pharmacy members of the Committee and as voting members of the Committee they ensure transparency of decision-making. Their contribution to the debate and process ensures the decisions taken by the Committee are firmly rooted in the best interests of the persons whom the Board serves i.e the patients.
Lay members should also display patience, tenacity and an ability to be objective (especially useful when faced with a range of stakeholders with different priorities).
PPC Members are appointed for a term of office of three years, with an option for extension for a second three years.
On acceptance of appointment, the opportunity is given to attend a training session, which will provide comprehensive information around the practical workings of the Committee, along with the chance to meet key personnel associated with the Committee. PPC hearings are quasi judicial and The Legal Test is applied. New members will not be asked to sit on a hearing until they have received adequate training and are fully comfortable with the processes and the procedures.
