A vision for the role, orgnisation, structure and operating process for the proposed NHS Commissioning Board has been published by the DH. Subject to the passage of the amended Health and Social Care Bill (see June postings), the NHS CB should be established from October 2012 and fully operational by April 2013.

Following the “pause” for further comment and concern about the implementation of the Liberating the NHS” programme, the government has published its response as a command paper (CM 8113) together with briefing notes on amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill.

Despite the fact that the future of NPSA is uncertain under the Arm’s Length Bodies review, its role is expanded by amending Directions which require it to provide more advice and guidance on patient safety and to clinical assessments and research associated with patient safety. Effective 3rd June 2011

The report following consultation on the “3 year rule” concludes that the restriction should be lifted. For EU pharmacists on part 1 of the GPhC register this will be done by a section 73 Order under the Medicines Act. The report says that a suitable legal instrument will have to be identified to extend the measure to “visiting pharmacists” who may be on part 4 of the GPhC register.

The European Parliament has approved a proposed directive amending Directive 2001/83/EC aiming to prevent entry into the legal supply chain of medicinal products which are falsified in relation to their identity, history or source. The link lists 119 proposed amendments together with useful explanatory statements and a justification for the changes.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has issued a consultation on the fees for renewal of registration for 2011-2012 together with the legislative Rules (as an appendix) to implement them. Consultation closes on 12th May 2011