What is a dispensing doctor? Understanding how rural GP dispensaries work
When most people think of getting a prescription, they picture collecting it from a community pharmacy on the high street. However, in certain rural areas, some GP surgeries have their own on site dispensary. These surgeries are known as dispensing doctors.
This article explains how dispensing doctor services work, how they differ from community pharmacies, and what this means for patients.
How dispensing doctors differ from community pharmacies
Everyone has the right to choose where their prescriptions are dispensed. In most cases, this means choosing a community pharmacy. In rural areas, patients who live more than one mile from a pharmacy may also be able to choose their GP surgery if it is a dispensing doctor practice.
The main differences include:
They can dispense prescriptions but cannot sell over the counter medicines
Dispensing doctor surgeries can supply medicines that are written on your prescription. However, they cannot sell non prescription items such as pain relief, cold remedies, or other over the counter medicines in the way a community pharmacy can.
Prescriptions are dispensed at the surgery
Medicines prescribed by your GP can often be dispensed at the same site, which may save an additional journey. Even if the surgery employs a pharmacist, they are not involved in the dispensing process. Their role usually focuses on medication reviews and supporting patients with their treatment.
Services you can usually access at a dispensing doctor surgery
Dispensing doctor surgeries often provide the same clinical care as any other GP practice. This can include:
Medication reviews
A surgery pharmacist or GP can review your medicines to make sure they are working well and discuss any concerns.
Support with long term conditions
Monitoring and advice for conditions such as diabetes, asthma, or high blood pressure.
Vaccinations and health checks
Some dispensing doctor surgeries offer flu vaccinations and other routine immunisations, as well as basic health checks.
What this means for patients
Only patients who live more than one mile from a pharmacy may be eligible to have their prescriptions dispensed by a dispensing doctor surgery.
Dispensing doctor services exist because many parts of the country were historically more rural, and patients could not easily travel to a separate pharmacy. In some areas, this arrangement continues to help ensure people can access their medicines conveniently.
Things to remember
- Dispensing services may have slightly different opening hours from the main GP practice.
- You can still choose to use a community pharmacy if you prefer.
- In urban areas, a pharmacy located inside or next to a GP surgery is usually a separate community pharmacy, not a dispensing doctor service.
Community pharmacies can offer a wider range of services beyond dispensing prescriptions. These may include selling over the counter medicines, the New Medicines Service, Pharmacy First, blood pressure checks, and the Pharmacy Contraception Service.
Dispensing doctor surgeries play an important role in supporting rural communities and ensuring people can access their medicines close to home.
If you are unsure whether your GP surgery is a dispensing doctor practice, or you would like help understanding your options, you can contact Healthwatch for information and advice.
Acknowledgement
Healthwatch North Yorkshire would like to thank local community pharmacists across York and North Yorkshire, as well as Community Pharmacy North Yorkshire, for helping to put together this article about dispensing doctors.
Community Pharmacy North Yorkshire is the local representative body for community pharmacy contractors. It supports pharmacies across the county, represents their interests and works with NHS organisations and partners to improve pharmacy services for patients.
