This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7786306.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| GP dispensing change is rejected | GP dispensing change is rejected |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Proposals to change the rules on which GP practices in England can provide drugs directly to their patients have been rejected by ministers. | Proposals to change the rules on which GP practices in England can provide drugs directly to their patients have been rejected by ministers. |
| Health Minister Phil Hope told MPs on Tuesday there would be "no change" to the current arrangements. | Health Minister Phil Hope told MPs on Tuesday there would be "no change" to the current arrangements. |
| Rural doctors had campaigned against the changes, warning they threatened the future of GP dispensaries. | Rural doctors had campaigned against the changes, warning they threatened the future of GP dispensaries. |
| Many patients in rural communities are able to get prescription drugs from their GP, rather than a pharmacy. | Many patients in rural communities are able to get prescription drugs from their GP, rather than a pharmacy. |
| Had they gone ahead there could have been disastrous consequences for patients in rural communities Andrew LansleyShadow Health Secretary But the Pharmacy White Paper - designed to increase the role chemists play in providing care for patients - included a number of options to reform the existing rules. | Had they gone ahead there could have been disastrous consequences for patients in rural communities Andrew LansleyShadow Health Secretary But the Pharmacy White Paper - designed to increase the role chemists play in providing care for patients - included a number of options to reform the existing rules. |
| Under these, patients who live more than a mile from a chemist can choose to have their medicines dispensed by their GP. | Under these, patients who live more than a mile from a chemist can choose to have their medicines dispensed by their GP. |
| The White Paper argued the system was expensive and raised the idea of scrapping or modifying the distance rule, in favour of giving more power to local primary care trusts (PCTs) to decide which practices should dispense drugs. | The White Paper argued the system was expensive and raised the idea of scrapping or modifying the distance rule, in favour of giving more power to local primary care trusts (PCTs) to decide which practices should dispense drugs. |
| The Dispensing Doctors Association (DDA) argued that any change to the system would destabilise more than 700 GP practices, mainly in rural areas, which dispense drugs directly to their patients. | The Dispensing Doctors Association (DDA) argued that any change to the system would destabilise more than 700 GP practices, mainly in rural areas, which dispense drugs directly to their patients. |
| This would result in job losses and service cut-backs, with millions of patients denied a choice over where to get their drugs, and other services - such as home visits - threatened. | This would result in job losses and service cut-backs, with millions of patients denied a choice over where to get their drugs, and other services - such as home visits - threatened. |
| Strength of response | Strength of response |
| Mr Hope said the decision to allow dispensing doctors to continue was as a result of the strength of responses to the consultation. | Mr Hope said the decision to allow dispensing doctors to continue was as a result of the strength of responses to the consultation. |
| At Commons question time, Mr Hope said: "We are analysing the responses we have received to the consultation on pharmaceutical provision in England and we will be making an announcement on these wider issues as soon as possible in the New Year. | At Commons question time, Mr Hope said: "We are analysing the responses we have received to the consultation on pharmaceutical provision in England and we will be making an announcement on these wider issues as soon as possible in the New Year. |
| "However, I am aware of the strength of responses we have received on the various options for amending the criteria for dispensing by doctors. | "However, I am aware of the strength of responses we have received on the various options for amending the criteria for dispensing by doctors. |
| "We have taken account of the views of those attending the listening events, the meetings and so on. | "We have taken account of the views of those attending the listening events, the meetings and so on. |
| "Because of this I'm pleased to announce today that there will be no change to the current arrangements for GPs dispensing medicines to their patients." | "Because of this I'm pleased to announce today that there will be no change to the current arrangements for GPs dispensing medicines to their patients." |
| Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley described the decision as a "massive U-turn". | Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley described the decision as a "massive U-turn". |
| He said: "Had they gone ahead there could have been disastrous consequences for patients in rural communities. | He said: "Had they gone ahead there could have been disastrous consequences for patients in rural communities. |
| "We welcome the government's decision, but they could have saved themselves, and the taxpayer, a lot of time and effort if they had listened to us in the first place." | "We welcome the government's decision, but they could have saved themselves, and the taxpayer, a lot of time and effort if they had listened to us in the first place." |
| Norman Lamb, for the Liberal Democrats, said: "At long last, common sense has prevailed." | Norman Lamb, for the Liberal Democrats, said: "At long last, common sense has prevailed." |
| Sue Sharpe, of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, welcomed the announcement, but said: "We also remain of the view that, wherever possible, the public should be able to receive their NHS prescription medicines from their local pharmacy." | |
| There are 5,872 dispensing doctors in the UK in 1,365 practices. They look after more than 8 million patients, of whom 3.5 million are dispensing patients. | There are 5,872 dispensing doctors in the UK in 1,365 practices. They look after more than 8 million patients, of whom 3.5 million are dispensing patients. |