VIAGRA NEWS

Source: Sudbury Today

Date: 8-Mar-2007

Bosses at the Glemsford Surgery fear they may have to close their satellite practice in Hartest if a new pharmacy is allowed to be built in the village.

Concerns have also been raised over the long-term future of the Glemsford surgery, which claims it would lose around 25% of its income if it lost its dispensary.

The fears have been raised after Suffolk Primary Care Trust (PCT) received an application to open a new pharmacy in Glemsford. Health guidelines state that people living within 1.6 kilometres of a pharmacy cannot receive medication from doctors.

The surgery has launched a petition urging the PCT to turn down the application and their fight has been backed by both Glemsford and Hartest parish councils.

Rex Thake, chairman of Babergh Council and a Glemsford parish councillor, said: "We already have a very good dispensary service in the surgery. The surgery is very vulnerable and we really don't want to see them knocked out of business.

"The parish council is very anxious that we don't have something in the village that only lasts a year then disappears, leaving us with nothing, and that could happen.

"We are trying to attract new businesses to the village but we should also be protecting the services we have got here in Glemsford. In reality, this is not a difficult decision."

Mr Thake's comments were backed by Mary Gough, vice-chairman of Hartest Parish Council.

She said: "It would be a terrible thing if the Hartest surgery were forced to close. The inconvenience it would bring to a great many people, particularly the elderly, would be enormous and we should try our best not to let that happen."

Staff at the surgery have been heartened by the response of residents who have been signing petitions opposing the proposed pharmacy.

The petitions can be found at the Glemsford and Hartest surgeries, Broadway Stores, Glemsford, and the Willow Tree Farm Shop.

A spokeswoman for the surgery said: "We have not had anyone come in and say they would like to see a pharmacy in the village. People understand the implications and have been signing the petitions.

"The response has been overwhelming."

A spokeswoman for the PCT confirmed an application had been received to open a pharmacy in Glemsford. Its pharmacy and dispensary committee will decide whether to grant a licence late next month or in early May.

Why the 1.6-kilometre rule?

The NHS Pharmaceutical Regulations state that there must be a clear distinction between those who prescribe drugs and those who dispense drugs.

The aim is to avoid the possibility of a conflict of interest between GPs' duty to prescribe the best drugs for patients and the fact they are charging for dispensing them.

This principle has, however, always been subject to exceptions, most notably in rural areas – which are known as "controlled localities".

Section two of the regulations, states: "Where a PCT has determined that an area is 'controlled', provided certain conditions are met, doctors as well as pharmacies can dispense NHS medicines. GPs may, in general, dispense NHS prescriptions only with NHS approval and only to their own patients who live in such controlled localities and more than 1.6km from a pharmacy. The main purpose is to ensure patients in rural areas who might have difficulty getting to the nearest pharmacy can access medicines."