Dispensing Historic Rights
The dispensing of medication is governed by the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013. This allows GP practices to dispense to patients under very strict criteria. Practices may only dispense to patients who:
- Live in a controlled locality (an area which has been determined as rural in character.)
- Live at a distance of more than 1.6 km as the crow flies from any pharmacy.
- Live in an area that is deemed to be a reserved location (i.e. – when permission for the practice pharmacy was applied for, the area population was less than 2,750.)
There are 2 types of permission a GP practice can have to dispense to patients fitting the criteria described above and the type of permission a practice has means that further criteria may apply. The 2 types of permission are:
- Outline consent. This is where a practice has been granted permission to dispense to a specific area.
- Historic rights. This is where a practice can dispense to an area if they were authorised to do so before 1 April 1983. For this type of permission, patients are also required to meet one of the following conditions:
- The patient has not been on a dispensing list at their previous practice, but now resides at a different address in the area.
- The patient was dispensed to at their previous practice.
Eligibility
NHS Regulations make it very difficult for patients who wish to change from practice dispensing status to a pharmacy to swap back again at a later date. Once a patient has requested to change their dispensing status they will not be able to change back. This means patients will not be able to receive urgent on the day medication for example antibiotics and painkillers.
If a patient decides to change from dispensing to non-dispensing they will be required to sign a form to ensure they understand the implications of removing their dispensing rights and for the necessary changes to be made.
Patients should contact the surgery and ask to speak to the Dispensary Manager to discuss their options.
Dispensing Rights Flow Chart
Please click on the link below to check if you are eligible for dispensing status at Stickney Surgery.
