 |
| Digby Emson: Patients must not be told where and when to collect prescriptions |
Boots the Chemists is concerned that trials of the electronic transfer of prescriptions
(ETP) could mean the loss of patient choice over dispensing.
Speaking at a primary care conference in London on October 11, Mr Digby Emson
(superintendent pharmacist, Boots) said: “At Boots we are very clear that
the public’s interest will be best served by a system which will allow
the patient to choose when and where a prescription is dispensed. We do not
believe a patient should be told where they should collect their medicine. The
system we prefer would protect the patient’s choice and reinstate the importance
of the pharmacist/patient relationship.”
Mr Emson also called for a collaborative approach to primary care.
“This means the recognition that whether we are a general medical practitioner,
nurse or pharmacist we have entered our chosen profession to try and make a
difference. Each of us wants to uphold ethical standards and to achieve as much
as is possible for our patients and customers.”
He said that pharmacists did not want to practice in isolation, but rather with
GPs, nurses, and social services in order to provide the best possible service
to patients.
“As pharmacists we want to be an integral part of primary care. Indeed,
I believe primary care cannot and will not exist without a strong pharmacy input.
I hope that pharmacy will work to prove its value as a partner in healthcare
provision,” Mr Emson concluded.