Freedom of Information

Welcome to Armstrong's Pharmacy Publication Scheme. This is the Publication Scheme for the registered pharmacists who practice together at Armstrong's Pharmacy (N Armstrong Ltd.) 867 Gleadless Road, Sheffield S12 2LG within the practice; it is about the NHS services which the Pharmacists provide, as required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

This Publication Scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by Armstrong's Pharmacy. It is a description of the information about our Pharmacists and Pharmacy which we make publicly available. It will be reviewed at regular intervals and we will monitor its effectiveness

How much does it cost?

The publications are all free unless otherwise indicated within each Class. Where information is provided at a cost, the charges will be calculated as set out in Class 7.

How is the information made available?

The information within each Class is either downloadable from the pharmacy website or available in hard copy from the address above.

Your rights to information

In addition to accessing the information identified in the Publication Scheme, you are entitled to request information about Armstrong's Pharmacy under the NHS Openness Code 1995.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 recognises that members of the public have the right to know how public services are organised and run, how much they cost and how the decisions are made.

From January 1st 2005 it will oblige the Pharmacy to respond to requests about information that it holds about NHS Pharmaceutical Services, and is recorded in any format and it will create a right of access to that information. These rights are subject to some exemptions which have to be taken into consideration before deciding what information it can release.

New environmental information regulations may be introduced as early as 2003. These will enable similar access to environmental information as under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you are also entitled to access your patient medication records or any other personal information held about you and you can contact us at the address above to do this.

Feedback

If you have any comments about the operation of the Publication Scheme, or how we have dealt with your request for information from the Scheme, please write to: Armstrong's Pharmacy, 867 Gleadless Road Sheffield S12 2LG

CLASSES OF INFORMATION

All information at Armstrong's Pharmacy is held, retained and destroyed in accordance with NHS guidelines. Our commitment to publish information excludes any information which can be legitimately withheld under the exemptions set out in the NHS Openness Code or Freedom of Information Act 2000. Where individual Classes are subject to exemptions, the main reasons are e.g. the protection of commercial interests and personal information under the Data Protection Act 1998. This applies to all Classes within the Publication Scheme. The information on this Scheme is grouped into the following broad categories:

1. Who we are:-

Class Description: Details of the Practice, organisational structures, key personnel and how we fit into the NHS.

The Sheffield Primary Care Trust has made arrangements with Armstrong's Pharmacy for the provision of pharmaceutical services under section 41  of the  National Health Act 1977. The pharmacy is contracted to provide a range of NHS services. A list of these appears in class 2.)

Details of Pharmacists:-
C.J.Armstrong BSc(Hons)MRPharmS	Superintendent, Director, Manager	Full Time
A.J.Armstrong MRPharmS	Managing Director	Part Time
V.A.Armstrong MRPharmS	Director	Part Time

Local Pharmaceutical Services Scheme.

Under the Health and Social Care Act which amends the NHS Act, arrangements have been made for the establishment of Local Pharmaceutical Services Schemes by a Primary Care Trust. Regulations are in place. Armstrong's Pharmacy is providing Local Pharmaceutical Services under a Local Pharmaceutical Services Scheme established by the Sheffield Primary Care Trust.

2.Our Services

Class Description:

The range of services we provide under contract to the Sheffield Primary Care Trust and free of charge.

We are contracted with Sheffield Primary Care Trust to dispense prescriptions for drugs, medicines and Drug Tariff  listed appliances. We also keep patient medication records.

We also provide the following services without NHS remuneration :-

• Dispensing of private & veterinary prescriptions

• Advice from the pharmacist

• Emergency medical supplies

• Disposal of unwanted medicines

• Prescription delivery service to the housebound

It is a requirement of the practice allowance that we receive from Sheffield PCT,  that we have a Practice Leaflet available at our pharmacy detailing all our services.

Terms of Service:-

To be included on the list of the Sheffield Primary Care Trust we are subject to 'The Terms of Service' . A copy may be obtained from the Sheffield Primary Care Trust.

Data protection:-

The pharmacy keeps computerised patient medication records and is registered under the data protection Act. It is only available for use in the Pharmacy. 

PHARMACY HOURS:-

3. Financial and funding information

Funding details and charging policies:-    

The prescription charge from 1st April 2008 is £7.10. Some patients can get free prescriptions under certain circumstances - please ask for leaflet HC11.Anyone who has to pay, and has more than five prescription items in four months, or fourteen in twelve months, can save money with a pre-payment certificate. These charges are set annually by the Department of Health.You can phone 0845 8500030 to buy one over the phone or to get more details. You can apply by post - ask for application form FP95, or visit On Line prescription charge payment to pay On-Line.

The prescription charge is a tax paid directly to the NHS. It is not received by the pharmacist and does not form part of any remuneration to the pharmacy for NHS pharmaceutical services.

Further information on the cost of drugs and appliances can be found in the Drug Tariff, available from The Stationery Office. The Prescription Pricing Authority produces the Drug Tariff monthly. see-. www.ppa.nhs.uk/

A copy of the Drug Tariff is available @ £9.50 at The Stationary Office Web Site ,then search for 'Drug Tariff'.

Some information in this class may not be released because it is confidential or commercial information or its release may be prejudicial to the conduct of the pharmacy’s affairs.

4. Information about Policies, Prescribing and Prescriptions

We have Standard operating procedures relating to the dispensing of prescriptions.

We are registered under the Data Protection Act and abide by the Data Protection Act principles.

5. Regular publications and information for the public

Guidance and information leaflets (issued by Sheffield Primary Care Trust) are available from the pharmacy

6. Complaints

Policies, procedures and contacts for complaints.

We comply with the NHS policy for complaints. If you wish to make a complaint please contact the pharmacy manager. If you can not resolve the problem you may contact Sheffield Primary Care Trust (the address of which is in the phone book).

7. This Publication Scheme

In this class we will publish any changes we make to this Publication Scheme, the criteria on which our information management policies are made and a referral point for all enquires regarding information management generally in the practice. We will also publish any proposed changes or additions to publications already available.

Cost of Information

For the most part, we will charge you only for hard copies. Some information is available free, but for others there may be a charge. The charges will vary according to how information is made available. Charges are as follows:-

a) Via the Pharmacy Web Site:-  Free of charge, although any charges for Internet Service provider and personal printing costs would have to be met by the individual. For those without Internet access, a single print-out as on the website would be available by post from N Armstrong Ltd. or by personal application at the Pharmacy. Cost £5.00 +postage. However, requests for multiple printouts, or for archived copies of documents which are no longer accessible or available on the web, may attract a charge for the retrieval, photocopy, postage etc. We will let you know the cost and charges that will have to be paid in advance. We will not provide printouts of other organisation's websites.

b) Leaflets and brochures:-  Free of charge for leaflets or booklets on, for example, services we offer to the public, when collected from our pharmacy.

The charges will be reviewed regularly.

Useful Resources

Web sites:

This is the Information Commissioner web site www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

This is the Lord Chancellors Department web site www.dca.gov.uk/rights/dca/foidcaintro.htm

This is the NHS Freedom of Information web site www.foi.nhs.uk

Sheffield Primary Care Trust web site www.sheffieldpct.nhs.uk

Publications

NHS Openness Code www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4050490

FOI Act 2000 www.opsi.gov.uk/ then search for "foi 2000" and select link to Freedom of Information Act 2000

Copyright

Material available through this Publication Scheme is subject to the Pharmacy copyright unless otherwise indicated. Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, it may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium provided it is done so accurately in a manner which will not mislead. Where items are re-published or copied to others, you must identify the source and acknowledge copyright status. This permit does not extend to third party material, accessed through the scheme.

For HMSO Guidance Notes see:-   http://www.hmso.gov.uk/guides.htm

01/09/2008