The regulatory body for pharmacists has raised patient safety concerns about dispensing doctors in its response to the pharmacy White Paper.

I want to say to the RPSGB, 'O please, don't you start'! Is there really a lack of safety in medicines dispensed by GP surgeries? Have there been specific incidents reported? On this website there has already been speculation about the viability of some GP surgeries if dispensing rights were to be removed, particularly, if I remember correctly, in rural areas. Unless there really is some solid evidence of poor practice, then please, just leave GPs to get on with their exacting work.

It is only anecdotal - true - but over almost three decades of working in dispensing practices I have encountered substantially more errors reported by patients in pharmacy dispensing \(including hospitals) than have been detected in doctor dispensing. Perhaps we should actually count theses things carefully before leaping to conclusions or casting aspersions. Steve Ford

I believe Error happens at both sides in pharmacy dispensing and GP dispensing. Both sides learn from them but putting some measures in place until next time when procedures are reviewed again. However Is it really about patient safety?? or who is making the most money? We have community pharmacies who import parallel imports from Europe and India, Russia and make huge money and we have GP's who negotiate substantial discounts with companies. I knew a GP who was part of PCT but when it came to inhaler prescribing they prescribed SYMBICORT because company gave them 70% discount. So everyone in the practice just got Step3. \(Evidence of 1 GP) similarly I have been told last Thursday by a GP that his firends dispensing practice is now getting every drug from INDIA for their dispensing. If a GP/pharmacist is good business person then what is the FUSS? Similarly Big Multiples are negotiating big deals. I think the important message is that DO NOT LET YOUR FINANACIAL INCENTIVES CLOUD YOUR CLINICAL DECISIONS which may/may not HARM the patient but will put a dent to NHS.

Everyone seems to have missed the basic point which is that doctors dispensaries should be inspected and regulated in the same way as pharmacies. It is about a level playing field.

Is there no factual information on error rates for dispensing? The whole argument is sloppy without factual information.

Perhaps one should look closely at the statment, it is about regulation, Clinical governance etc. not about picking on one profession or the other. Observing the two sides working certainly shows that where a professional oversees it directly and one who is qualified in that field at that is certainly going to benefit the patient. It is about patient care isn't it or has it become all about money?!

I work in a doctor's dispensing practice as a pharmacist. Here the pharmacy is operated as a "conventional" pharmacy. As Sandra Gidley correctly observed, it's about operating on a level playing field. All pharmacies, irrespective whether they are doctors dispensing or otherwise should be regulated by the same set of rules. All prescriptions are issued under the NHS and the clinical governance regulations surrounding the dispensing of NHS prescriptions should have no exceptions.