This site is intended for Healthcare Professionals only

Numark criticises prescription direction posters

Profession bookmark icon off

Numark criticises prescription direction posters

Numark has criticised posters published by NHS England intended to raise awareness among patients about the issue of prescription direction.

"We are unsure of how effective a poster displayed in GP practices and pharmacies will be in stamping out this activity," said Mimi Lau, Numark’s director of pharmacy services. "Those involved in inappropriate prescription direction clearly have no scruples and will doubtless continue. Posters aren’t sufficient to educate the public and we shouldn’t have to rely on patients’ knowledge of the system."

NHSE would be publishing the posters "soon", according to an article on PSNC's website dated May 19. "The intention of the poster, which will be sent to GPs and pharmacists, is to assure patients that they are free to choose any pharmacy they would like to use for the dispensing of prescriptions, and in doing so to reduce the direction of prescriptions," said the article.

Patient nomination under EPS has recently increased the ferocity of the prescription direction issue, said Ms Lau. "Although some initial steps have been put in place to address this activity, in the form of jointly published guidance to GPs and pharmacies in terms of best practice, this has clearly not gone far enough as we have seen continuous complaints from our members. We understand that changing legislation will take time but if that’s what it takes, then we must be prepared to demand this of the Department. Pharmacies’ livelihood may be at stake here."

PSNC director of regulation and support Steve Lutener said: “PSNC wants to see patients able to choose their own pharmacy, based on the convenience to them and the quality of service that is provided. We hope that the communications expected to come from NHS England will help, but, if they don’t, we’ll certainly be pushing once again for regulatory changes. Where the system is not working, please do gather the evidence and share it with us so we can take action if needed.”

Copy Link copy link button

Profession

Share: