I received this today from someone who has been stalwart fighting both the EU and creeping socialism over the years!
I commend it to all but especially to those who are perhaps unaware of what is going on. It is an attack on rural life as a whole in just the same way that the closure of rural post offices was. Car owners who drive to a distant supermarket may not know how this would seem to someone dependent on buses or on the goodwill of others, but even they might find it difficult to make a special jhourney just at a time when they are feeling ill.
Please respond AT ONCE since the deadline is next Thursday 20 November.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx cs
More stealth
I know this is not mainstream for you but it is another example of the Government's stealthy centralisation. This letter from my surgery has only just arrived but the deadline for replies is 20th November!
It is not something which affects an urban population but is of VITAL importance to those of us in rural areas - I would think around 5 million people or more. Imagine the problems for elderly and disabled patients with no transport!
Would you be prepared to circulate it to you various lists? I would be in your debt.
luv X
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Dear Patient, I am writing to let you know that the Government is thinking about changing the rules over where patients can get their medicines. At the moment patients who live more than one mile away from a chemist, can get their medicines from us here at the doctor's surgery. If the rules change, these patients may no Ionger be allowed to get their medicines from the surgery. We doctors are asking the Government to keep things as they are and not change the rules. We think it should be the patients' choice where they get their medicines and it is particularly important that elderly, disabled and those with transport difficulties can continue to get their medicines from the surgery. The Government is asking everyone affected, including patients, to tell them what they think. If you want to have your say please see below the details of who to write to. You may also wish to write to your Member of Parliament about this local issue.
1. What changes are being considered? The Government says it may change the rules that regulate dispensing doctors (those whose surgeries give medicines to their patients), or that they may leave them as they are. The four options are: Option One: leave things as they are. We are supporting Option One because we believe it is important that our patients can continue to have the choice to get their medicines at their surgery. Option Two: let the local Primary Care Trust decide (we are not supporting this as we are not sure it will allow doctor dispensing). Option Three and Option Four: changing the rules so that instead of allowing those patients far from chemists to have their drugs dispensed by their doctors, only doctors who are more than a certain distance from a chemist may dispense to anyone. In practice this would end most doctor dispensing.
2. Your chance to have your say If you want to continue to have the choice to receive your medicines from your doctors' surgery, rather than have to go to a pharmacy, please write in support of Option One - keeping things as they are, to: Gillian Farnfield MPI - Community Pharmacy Policy
4th Floor, Skipton House
80 London Road SE1 6LH
The deadline for replies is 20th November
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