We have recently received enquiries seeking clarification on who can have their medication dispensed from the practice dispensary. This short guide has been produced in response and it is hoped that this brief guide will improve patients understanding of the situation.
Crickhowell Group Practice operates a dispensary and in doing so we have to comply with the NHS Pharmaceutical Services Regulations 2020. The regulations allow the practice to provide pharmaceutical services (i.e. dispense medications) to our registered patients if their home address is more than 1.6 km from any pharmacy, or if the ‘serious difficulty rule’ is in place.
The ‘catchment area’ in which this 1.6km ‘rule’ applies is determined by the LHB and is illustrated to the practice in the form of a map. The county or post code in which the patient resides has no bearing on the 1.6km rule as it is based purely on ‘rurality’ and distance from home address to a pharmacy. As there are dispensing pharmacies in Gilwern and Crickhowell it is likely that patients living in these areas will not meet the 1.6 km rule. As a general guide we can dispense to patients living in the following areas:
- Bwlch
- Clydach
- Cwmdu
- Forest Coal Pit
- Glangrwyney
- Govilon
- Llanbedr
- Llangenny
- Llangorse
- Llangynidr
- Llanwenarth
- Talgart
- Talybont-on-Usk
- Tretower
In addition, we can also dispense to a patient who lives less than 1.6 km from any pharmacy but has demonstrated to the LHB that they have ‘serious difficulty’ in obtaining any necessary drugs or appliances from a pharmacy.
Patients wishing to rely upon the ‘serious difficulty’ rule in Regulation 26(1) (a) must have made a request in writing to the LHB (Powys teaching Health Board) for the practice to provide him or her with pharmaceutical services. The rule states a patient must satisfy the LHB that they would have serious difficulty in obtaining any necessary drugs and appliances from a pharmacy contractor by reason of distance or inadequacy of means of communication. It applies to any patient, not just those who live in rural areas. Each application should be looked at individually on its own merits, in the light of: the patient’s personal circumstances; the local arrangements for primary medical services and pharmaceutical services; the distance and terrain involved; transport facilities; the existence of collection and delivery service; and the availability and possible use of a phone.
It is hoped that this guidance is useful and any questions related to eligibility for dispensing can be directed to the dispensary team at the practice.