The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7230 p13
4 January 2003

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  Locum pharmacy
  Period-of-treatment fee
  Community pharmacy
  Repeat prescribing
  Wholesaling
  PI insurance
  Genetic research
  PILs
  Public health
  The Profession
  Branch meetings

Letters to the Editor

Repeat prescribing

Projects in the north east

From Mr P. J. Hopley, MRPharmS

Your readers may be interested in repeat prescriptions following the designation of pathfinder sites (PJ, 12 October 2002, p513) and subsequent agreement by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee of funding arrangements. A project funded by a Health Action Zone Fellowship grant has looked at increasing access to repeat medicines by coronary heart disease patients as part of wider service development in line with both "Pharmacy in the future" and the national service framework.

Five pharmacies and three medical practices in South Shields, Gateshead and Northumberland are involved. To date, 100 patients are enrolled and supplies of approximately 400 prescription items have been made over periods of up to five months.

In South Shields, the pharmacy is within the health centre building and a cable extension has been made to the GP practice EMIS computer system for access by the pharmacist. In Gateshead, a transmitter/aerial system has been installed to link the pharmacy situated across the road from the health centre, although some technical problems are being experienced with this. In Northumberland, paper communication is used by the three pharmacies that serve the local community. A half-day training session was attended by pharmacists, dispensary staff, the practice manager and a general practitioner.

It is too early for a formal evaluation, but two main subjective observations can be made. First, there has been an increase in team working among and between the GPs and pharmacists involved where previously, in some cases, little contact existed. Secondly, many patients have reacted in low-key manner, giving an impression that obtaining repeat medicines directly from a pharmacy is an obvious thing to do and is only common sense.

I would be pleased to supply further information on the scheme upon request and to refer where appropriate to the individual pharmacists and practice managers involved.

Peter Hopley
Newcastle upon Tyne
(e-mail hopleypharm@compuserve.com)

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