Politics - Weasel pharmacy

The pharmacy white paper will not prevent doctors in remote rural areas from dispensing, according to the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.

Dispensing doctors have claimed they are at risk from proposed distance restrictions that would prevent surgeries from dispensing if they are too close to a community pharmacy.

However, PSNC said it supports doctor dispensing for patients in remote rural areas and has no wish for a dispute with dispensing doctors.

Sue Sharpe, the committee’s chief executive, offered to work with representatives of dispensing doctors to ensure all patients are able to obtain their prescription medicines.

“We want to continue to work collaboratively to ensure that there is good access to pharmacy services for everyone,” she said.

(Chemist & Druggist web-site)

1. Posted by David Roberts, On 23/05/2008 20:12

Ah, the careful wording!! "Remote areas". By that we must assume that the good Sue Sharpe means what she says, the areas which are not viable for the High Street chemist.

Her comments would be more valuable if she had "reassured" all dispensing doctors that she and her colleagues would refuse the free, gratis and for nothing gifts of their businesses to be kindly bestowed on them by the government. Or, of course, as an alternative offered realistic compensation according to the value of the dispensing activity based on turnover in the usual way.

As it is her words are but a politician's weasel words and utterly, utterly without a shred of value.

Better something for nothing, eh?

24/5/08)