Bitter pill for village GPs

Jun 27 2008 By Naomi Dunning

VILLAGE doctors could lose their right to dispense medicines under proposals which they say would force job cuts in rural surgeries.

GPs say a Government White Paper to alter the regulation of pharmacies would mean patients would no longer collect prescriptions in-house.

Surgeries in Tarporley, Malpas, Kelsall, Tattenhall and Bunbury and the Knoll Surgery in Frodsham all dispense medicines to those who live more than a mile from a chemist – but this service is under threat.

Dr Andrew Campbell’s practice in Park Road, Tarporley, serves 100 square miles and has been dispensing medicines for 200 years.

He said: "The revenue from this activity has helped subsidise nursing and medical services at our three village surgeries. It has also helped us provide for people who struggle to get out in more remote areas."

Dr Chris Hulbert, senior partner of the Laurel Bank Surgery in Malpas, said: "Doctors have always dispensed medicines, as we have always prescribed medicines, and since about 1840 there has always been a division of labour between rural doctors and pharmacies.

"Strictly speaking, the money we get from the dispensary is not meant to subsidise our service, but in reality it does. We would not be able to offer the services we do, or have as nice a building, without that subsidy."

Kelsall practice manager Liz Guest said: "Around half our patients are dispensing patients.

"They like that you don’t have to go anywhere else, especially those who are elderly or have young children.

"We just want to care for our patients the best we can, and this will not benefit the patients."

She added: "There will also be the loss of staff. Similarly, we will lose the money that comes from the dispensary."

Eddisbury MP Stephen O’Brien, Shadow Health Minister, said: "It is clear to everybody that there are no conceivable benefits to these Government proposals. It is the trust of the doctors and it is the locality and the convenience to the patients that matters most."