A Telford MP has slammed controversial Government proposals to change the way medicines are dispensed at local family doctor surgeries, claiming the move could put the future of some Telford GP practices at risk.
The Government is currently undertaking a consultation exercise which could mean some local GP surgeries will no longer be able to dispense medicines to their patients.
Those people would instead be referred to larger pharmacies around the borough.
Quality
Wrekin MP, Mark Pritchard has vowed to fight the plans, which are outlined in a Government White Paper, and claims the proposals show Government ministers are “out of touch” with what the general public want.
Mr Pritchard said: “The Government are once again threatening the quality of local health services.
“The GP dispensing system works perfectly well and they should leave it alone. These changes would mean local patients having to travel miles to pick up prescriptions and would be another blow for the vital doctor and patient relationship.
“I have had so many complaints from local people about this, they are furious.”
Mr Pritchard added that removing dispensing from GP surgeries would be a particular threat to smaller practices, which also face the arrival of super-health centres, known as polyclinics.
“This will have a distinct impact on rural areas,” he said.
Service
“Surgeries would lose a large proportion of their income which in turn will have an effect on other aspects of service provision.”
The MP added: “The Government are taking away services bit by bit.
“They seem intent on changing a system that has worked perfectly well in Telford & Wrekin for years. They shouldn’t try to fix something that isn’t broken.”
The MP is encouraging patients and GPs to write a letter of protest to Dawn Primoralo MP, the Minister for Health.
The full consultation documents can be viewed online at www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_087324
The consultation period ends on November 20.