FOLLOWING the recent appeal by Newtown Surgery practice manager Mike Korab and Mark Greewood, chairman of the Patient Participation Group, to support retaining the pharmacy at the surgery, Liphook's MP James Arbuthnot, paid a visit to the surgery last Friday to familiarise himself with the appeal.  

Mr Arbuthnot enjoyed discussions with Mr Korab, Nancy Woodman, the patient group representative, Dr Caroline Welch and Dr Barbara Rushton and left with a better understanding of the real implications at grass roots level. He asked the surgery to write him a letter on the implication of the White paper and its effect on patients and practices which he promised to forward to Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health for his comments, on their behalf.

The main discussion points of the visit revolved around the loss of patient choice and individualised service, the loss of community service, delivery and the duplication of activity with the pharmacy doing medical reviews and chronic disease checks.

The conclusion was that there is "no evidence that pharmacists are better qualified to do these than GP's".

Mr Arbuthnot also met members of the dispensary team who gave a demonstration on how medicines are prepared for home delivery to housebound patients and nursing homes.

He acknowledged how valuable the home delivery service to housebound patients was, as sometimes these patients had very limited social contact and that this added real value.

The White paper potentially spells the end for many dispensing doctors, who for many years have provided a vital service in rural communities where a community pharmacy is unviable and many of whom use the profit to reinvest in services, for example providing additional healthcare services in socio-economically challenged, remote or under-doctored areas.

Mr Arbuthnot said: "The White paper proposes changing the distance requirements, which currently are from the patient's house to the surgery and in future would be the distance from the surgery to the nearest community pharmacy, which could result in the loss of many dispensing practices that provide a vital service in rural communities,

"If dispensing doctors are prohibited from dispensing if a pharmacy is close by, there is a risk that many patients from rural villages could lose access to the most convenient service for them, including arrangements in villages for local collection of prescriptions.

"I recommend that patients respond to the public consultation of the White paper before November 20."

Anyone wishing to continue to have their choice to receive medicines from their doctor's surgery should write a letter by November 18, addressed to Gillian Farnfield, MPI Community Pharmacy Policy, 4th Floor, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LH, which can be delivered to the surgery to be forwarded or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected] or visit http://www.dh.gov.uk">www.dh.gov.uk.