Concerns raised about prescription direction as joint GP/pharmacy venture formed in Avon
Assura Pharmacy Ltd has formed a 50/50 joint venture — GP Care Pharmacy — with GP Care, a company set up by 600 GPs from 89 practices in the Bristol area, to develop a “direct-to-consumer” pharmacy service along with a network of pharmacies on high streets and at GP practices. The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee is worried that the business might restrict patient choice.
“Protecting patients’ choice of pharmacy is an important NHS principle,” it said. “We are very concerned about any scheme under which patients will inevitably feel under pressure by GPs to use the pharmacy service in which they have a stake. In our view this is incompatible with health policy. We have raised these concerns with the Department of Health and discussions are ongoing.”
GP Care Pharmacy’s idea is that patients from all 89 GP practices in South Gloucestershire, Bristol and North Somerset Primary Care Trust areas who have repeat prescriptions will be able to register with the company to get repeat medicines sent direct to their homes without having to visit either a surgery or a pharmacy.
The company says that its service will be similar to prescription collection and delivery services that are already available from pharmacies. Where it differs is that GP Care Pharmacy will contact patients when it thinks repeat medication is due. If medicines are needed, then a prescription request will be sent to an Assura pharmacy and the medicines delivered free of charge to the patients’ home.
Avon Local Pharmaceutical Committee vice-chairman Andrew Downing said: “What they’re doing is legal and above board, but it’s concerning.”
Nationally, about 70 per cent of GP prescriptions are repeat
prescriptions.
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