Principles for dispensing doctors and community pharmacists

We signpost you to guides and principles to follow when dispensing medications.

Location: UK
Audience: Practice managers GPs
Updated: Thursday 10 October 2024
GP practice article illustration

Dispensing doctors

Profit control measures in dispensing practice (known as the NHS  ‘clawback’) are now 25 years old; they no longer reflect the current drug marketplace and expose dispensing practices to financial penalties on hundreds of items, affecting every practice, every time that they dispense these items.   

The dispensing fees envelope has not been updated in line with inflation since 2019. Effectively, this has devalued the fee by 20 per cent, putting immense pressure on dispensing practice operating costs.

 

Best practice in efficient supply of medicines

This joint statement on managing the supply chain of medicines is relevant to prescribers, dispensing doctors, pharmacists, manufacturers and wholesalers.

GOV.UK - best practice statement

 

Implementation of repeat dispensing

PSNC has published some guidance, including template letters for repeat dispensing.

PSNC - working with GPs

 

Community pharmacy advanced services

PSNC published a briefing to provide information for GP practices about advanced services provided by community pharmacies in England. This includes the medicine use reviews and the new medicines service.

PSNC - advanced services

 

ABPI code of practice

Pharmaceutical companies have to declare total amounts paid to health professionals for services such as speaker fees and participation in advisory boards.

ABPI - code of practice