Uncertain future for dispensing GPs in the North East
A consultation is underway into six dispensing GP practices across Aberdeenshire
The futures of six dispensing GP practices across Aberdeenshire are hanging in the balance.
NHS Grampian are launching a public consultation which will run from 4 July to 1 October 2016. The GP practices are Auchenblae, Gardenstown, Portlethen, Rhynie, Skene and Udny Station.
The NHS can only legally require a practice to dispense for patients who have a serious difficulty in accessing prescribed medicines and appliances from a pharmacy. The term serious difficulty is not defined but the local health board can consider the distance to the nearest pharmacy, public transport and other exceptional circumstances.
The review will look at which patients of the practices continue to have serious difficulty in getting to a pharmacy.
The dispensing practices at Strathdon, Tomintoul and Glenlivet have already been given the green light to keep going, because they’re so remote.
You can have your say by going to www.nhsgrampian.org/involvingyou and clicking on ‘Projects and Consultations’
(picture of Gardenstown copyright David Smith)