Protect Rural Medicine Dispensing

A new White Paper from the Government aims to expand the role of community pharmacists – but once more they’ve failed to notice that the needs of rural areas are different from elsewhere.

A proposal in the White Paper could result in many rural practices having to stop dispensing medicines to their patients. In Cornwall, up to 80,000 of the 140,500 patients who have their medicines directly dispensed by their GP surgery could lose this choice. It’s also true that the payments practices receive when they undertake the dispensing role can contribute to the viability of the surgery – which could also be hit.

But all is not lost. There is a groundswell against this move, and this is your opportunity to make your voice heard. Cornwall Conservative Candidates are arranging a petition to be presented to the House of Commons asking them to protect rural dispensing, often vital to patients who live in more isolated rural areas.

If you get your medicine from the surgery now, and want to go on doing so, do take a moment to tell us that you support our call for this vital service to continue.

As well as signing this petition, do also write directly to the Department of Health and make them aware of your concerns about the future of your dispensing surgery.

The address to write to is

Gillian Farnfield
Department of Health
Medicines Pharmacy and Industry Group
Area 453D, Skipton House
80 London Road
London SE1 6LH

You can also e-mail your response or comments to PWPCONS@dh.gsi.gov.uk