Repeat dispensing to move into second wave by February
A second wave of 40 repeat dispensing pathfinder sites for England has been announced by the Department of Health.
Primary care trusts that want to be in the second wave have until 12
November to complete their applications. Those that are successful will
be notified by 5 December, with implementation planned for 2 February
2004.
The first wave of pathfinder sites was restricted to repeat prescriptions
generated by general practitioners. This time, independent nurse prescribers
and nurse and pharmacist supplementary prescribers are to be included
in the arrangements provided they produce computer-generated prescriptions.
Practices and pharmacies that are involved with other initiatives, such
as local pharmaceutical services schemes and fourth-wave medicines management
services will also be allowed to take part in the second wave of repeat
dispensing schemes.
It has taken nearly a year to get the first wave of pathfinder sites
started. The sites were announced in October
2002 (PJ, 12 October 2002,
p513), but National Health Service Regulations to allow repeat dispensing
were not introduced until May
2003 (PJ, 3 May, p606). The first repeat
prescriptions were only issued last month (PJ, 23 August, p225).
The introduction of repeat dispensing at community pharmacies throughout
England remains a target for 2004. |
