The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7339 p269
5 March 2005

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· Problem-based learning
· Support staff (2)
· Co-proxamol
· Mental health
· New contract
· Repeat dispensing
· Overseas pharmacists (2)
· Registration
· Recruitment
· The profession

Letters to the Editor

Repeat dispensing

Not a workable solution

From Mr U. A. Patel, MRPharmS

John Wilson recognises the workload at the surgery associated with repeat prescriptions. However, his solution (PJ, 26 February, p232) merely transfers the work to the pharmacist.

It took me just over a minute to photocopy, stamp and endorse one prescription as suggested. An average pharmacy dispenses approximately 5,800 items per month out of which approximately 80 per cent are repeats, and there are approximately 2.2 items per prescription form. This results in 2,100 photocopies per month, ie, 35 hours of work. It is obviously not a workable solution.

U. A. Patel
Northwood, Middlesex

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