Take note that the General Pharmaceutical Council raised professional concerns in this year’s hub-and-spoke consultation, saying: “In any event, a move to enable a ‘hub’ and a related ‘spoke’ to be operated by different companies will raise significant issues of responsibility, accountability and liability, which will need to be worked through.”⁴

In terms of the responsible pharmacist, the GPhC advises: “When parts of a pharmacy service take place at different locations (such as in a ‘hub and spoke’ or ‘click and collect’ service) you must be clear about which pharmacist is accountable and responsible for each part of the service, and which pharmacy technician and other staff are involved.”⁵

In effect, the hub will be accountable for the accuracy of the dispensing, while the spoke is where the associated clinical check takes place and the medicine is supplied.