Hope for dispensing GP practices!!

[ramroum]

I have read an article in the BMA news magazine (British Medical Association) (Saturday June 13) about: (I typed some of it)
The dispensing doctors who feared their practices were under threat from community pharmacy applications have received boost, after patients and GPs complained.
From July 1, health boards will have to consult the public about new applications.
The BMA which have been campaigning strongly on the issue...
The health MINISTER ALWAYS SAYS THAT DISPENSING SHOULD STAND ALONE...
The BMA GPs committee deputy chair: It's encouraging that some progress is at last is being made on this issue. We've been working on this for the last 18 months or so. .... Although he welcomed the promised review, he said the interim measure did not go far enough.
The interim measure on consultation will be implemented by amending the NHS (pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulation 2009.

What are your thoughts on the dispensing GPs in rural areas who are doing pharmacists jobs in addition to their jobs?

Recently (because of the white paper) some GPs applied for permissions to open their own pharmacies which in my opinion the way forward if they want to keep the income from dispensing to themselves.

Pharmacists should be doing these jobs not GPs dispensing staff:
• Patient' safety will be increased by another professional (pharmacist) looking at their prescriptions and preventing errors.
• Gps might prefer to prescribe the profitable drugs over others; this needs to be regulated.
• More jobs would be created for pharmacists.

Our pharmaceutical organisations should do something about it. (See how much effort GPs organisations have been putting in for the benefit of their members).

[DavidS]

dispensing GPs in rural areas who are doing pharmacists jobs in addition to their jobs?

As you say later in your post, GPs are not doing a pharmacist's job, and that is the problem. Partly because of that dispensing in GPs surgeries is a greater drain on the NHS than if prescriptions were being dispensed in a pharmacy, and patients do not have the benefit of a pharmacist's availability.

Many such patients seem to believe that their GP does a better job than a pharmacist would. They must all be watching Doc Martin, or something, because they aren't on the same planet as me.

[ramroum]

I agree.

[Pharmanaut]

Patient perception will always favour the GP and all those within the circle.

[Jeff]

Pharmacies and dispensing Doctors should be working together to get better remuneration for dispensing.
Pharmacists and dispensing doctors should be working together to get funding for a pharmacist in each dispensing practice.
Pharmacists and dispensing doctors should be working together to obtain funding for prescribing pharmacists in each dispensing practice.

Instead we fight a turf war - arguing about which system is safest/cheapest/most convenient for patients.

[SolomonQ]

Let (funding/money/remuneration)= Pie

What Jeff says is we should be working together to get a larger pie or an extra pie which would be easier to share, but that fact is the government doesn't want to make that extra pie available nor do they want to provide a larger pie, so the DDs fight us because they believe the pie is theirs and they shouldn't have to share it.

The reaction of the DDs to Pharmacist is one that can unanimously be described as wholley unprofesional, I would be disgusted with myself if i was reacting like them.

[Jeff]

The reaction of the DDs to Pharmacist is one that can unanimously be described as wholley unprofesional, I would be disgusted with myself if i was reacting like them.

Have you ever worked at a dispensing practice - or even been near one?
Even David Roberts (who likened pharmacists to sewer rats) accepted that pharmacists in surgeries are useful.

What makes working for a European multinational better than working for a GP?
There is - I think - only one GP/Pharmacist practice partnership - and that's a dispensing practice. The pharmacist isn't required/expected to dispense.

I'd like the same freedom to dispense that dispensing doctors have, I'd like patient registration the way dispensing doctors have, I'd like access to patients notes the way dispensing doctors have.
Are we more liokely to get that by arguing that dispensing doctors shouldn't be dispensing or by arguing that we need the same tools as dispensing doctors to add value to the dispensing process.

Should we be arguing that dispensing doctors shouldn't dispense - or should we be arguing that dispensing doctors have an additional need for a pharmacists input because they don't get it any the dispensing stage.

[SolomonQ]

I've worked in a new pharmacy opened by DD as described in previous posts, the doctors bought the new contract that was being offered by the local PCT. and to be honest I was quite surprised because I wasn't sure how I would be treated or reacted to, but the doctors were really nice to me and I got the impression they were a bit "peeved" with the need for a pharmacist.

Let me assure you DD don't think they need the input of pharmacists in the dispensing they do. Ofcourse pharmacists can provide useful info etc for doctors, but for that they can ring any pharmacy and speak to one in say 5 minutes max.

But in the opinion of the DDs, the size of the pie they will have to part with (35-40K) will have to part with is not worth the input the pharmacist will be able to provide. #

I also agree with doctor ownership of pharmacies rather than non-healthcare controlled multinationals.

[Jeff]

Solly,
You're stuck in the pharmacist=dispensing model.

Consider the pharmacist impact on things such as prescribing, medicines management, chronic disease management instead.

Jeff

[DavidS]

I also agree with doctor ownership of pharmacies rather than non-healthcare controlled multinationals.

Yes, in that heirarchy of horribles, even DDs will be placing patient care higher up the agenda than the multinationals.