LONDON, April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Responding to news today about Government plans to extend healthcare services offered to patients and the public through community pharmacies, Paul Bennett, Chairman of the English Pharmacy Board of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, said:

"It is very exciting that the Government has listened to the profession's call to extend the clinical and advisory services offered to the public. Many pharmacies in England are already providing a range of services to their local communities such as the treatment of long-term conditions including asthma and diabetes and also support services for smoking cessation.

"Research has shown that the vast majority of the public has easy access to pharmacies: 99% of the population can reach a community pharmacy by car, by walking or by public transport within 20 minutes.

"I very much look forward to reading the full details in the White Paper when it is published tomorrow and to being engaged in developing and implementing the extension of services to the public."

Editors Notes

High Street Chemists to take on GP Services - Daily Telegraph 2 April.

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