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Marlborough Medical Practice statement on its application to open a new pharmacy
Many of you will have read in the local press of our application to open a new pharmacy and the concerns expressed about the future of Kennet Pharmacy. Whilst our application is being considered we have not felt it right to engage directly with the press but wish to make this statement to all our patients, explaining what is behind the application and hopefully to clear up some misconceptions.
The Marlborough Medical Practice has a history of providing care to the people of Marlborough and the surrounding area for over 200 years. Throughout this time it has dispensed medicines directly to patients. With the advent of the NHS and the growth of retail pharmacies, regulations were introduced that forbade practices from dispensing to patients who live within a mile of a retail pharmacy. This means that at present we dispense drugs to about a third of our patient list. This is a service that our rural patients on the whole value but some do choose to go to Kennet or Boots with their prescriptions.
Last year the Government introduced a White Paper proposing to forbid dispensing practices from dispensing to any of their patients. General Practices are small businesses and to lose the income from dispensing would have a significant impact. It would result in cut backs elsewhere and would necessitate staff redundancy. It was for this reason that we applied to open our own independent pharmacy which would be separate from the practice.
Just before Christmas the White Paper was dropped and for the moment the threat to dispensing practices has been removed. At that point, and mindful of Kennet Pharmacy’s plans to improve their premises, we did consider withdrawing our application. However, we came to the view that although the immediate threat to dispensing has receded, it is likely to return quite soon. Since then our fears have been justified as we have learnt of further threats to dispensing practices on the horizon.
So what will this mean for you? Should our application to open a pharmacy succeed it will not happen until we move into the part of the building vacated by the dentists next year. We will then give up our dispensing rights. All patients who require a prescription will be given one and will be free to go to the pharmacy of their choice. There will be no coercion to use our pharmacy. We will certainly not have a monopoly and will face competition from two established pharmacies. We believe there is adequate business for three pharmacies and the increased competition will result in improved service. It is certainly not our intention to put Kennet Pharmacy out of business and it is hoped that we will be able to continue to have a good relationship with them and Boots.
However, we fail to see why Kennet Pharmacy or Boots should be in a privileged position when facing commercial competition. Recently a new optician has opened in the High Street but there has been no outrage expressed about a possible threat to the existing opticians. Competition is usually regarded as a good thing for the consumer as it raises standards and guards against complacency on the part of the business. We are a business in which we have a considerable personal stake. We have invested heavily in providing the town with NHS dentistry and we have to maintain our income stream to do so. Loss of dispensing income will jeopardise such services.
We are disappointed that people have expressed views in the local press and the Town Council has discussed our application yet none of these people have approached us for an explanation as to why we have made this application. We are happy to talk to anyone on an individual level who would like further clarification.
The partners of the Marlborough
Medical Practice
3 February 2009
Flu and pneumococcal vaccinations - Autumn 2008
Details of flu and pneumococcal vaccinations clinics during Autumn 2008 will be posted in due course.
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Marlborough Medical Practice
MINOR INJURIES SERVICES The Minor Injuries Unit at Savernake Hospital is due to close on 30 September 2007. From 1 October, treatment for all minor injuries such as cuts and grazes, sprains, burns and scalds, and simple fractures should be sought at:
The Great Western Hospital in Swindon
or
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The
Summer 2007 Newsletter
(404 KB)
contains information about recent developments in the practice, and includes
articles on:
- the proposed closure of the Minor Injuries Unit at Savernake Hospital
- the new self-test equipment in the Waiting Room
- how to be "Sun-safe" this summer
- the support offered to those who wish to stop smoking.
The
Spring 2007 Newsletter
(111 KB)
contains information about recent developments in the practice, and includes
articles on:
- Savernake Hospital
- Phlebotomy
- Neck pain
- Hay Fever
- Active 4 Health
The
December 2006 Newsletter
(180 KB)
contains information about recent developments in the practice, and includes
articles on:
- Staff changes
- Patient Satisfaction Survey
- Ear Care
- Hepatitis A vaccination
- Pandemic Flu.
The
Summer 2006 Newsletter
(120 KB)
contains information about recent developments in the practice, and includes
articles on:
- Choose and Book
- Telephone Triage and Minor Illness Clinic
- Kennet Carers Association
- Insect Bites and Stings
- Tennis Elbow.
The
Spring 2006
Newsletter
(153 KB)
contains information about recent developments in the practice, and includes
articles on:
- Back pain
- The Surgery Car Park
- Travel Vaccinations
- Out of Hours Service
- Savernake Hospital.
New
Out of Hours Service
Surgery no longer to be open on Saturday mornings
Improved Dispensary weekday opening hours
An important notice for all patients of the practice
As you may already be aware, the responsibility for Out of Hours Services will in future be assumed by Primary Care Trusts. Our local Primary Care Trust, Kennet and North Wiltshire, has commissioned a new Out of Hours service, which is planned to start on 1 October 2004. The service will be provided by “Wiltshire Medical Services”, a Co-operative of local doctors (which includes most of the practice’s own doctors). It will be based at Chippenham, and it will also have access to a consulting room at Savernake Hospital.
Therefore, from 1 October (barring unforeseen circumstances between now and then), the Out of Hours service will no longer be provided by the practice directly, but instead by “Wiltshire Medical Services”; however, the practice will still have a considerable involvement, as most of the practice’s doctors will be undertaking Out of Hours duties for Wiltshire Medical Services.
The Out of Hours service will operate overnight (from 6.30 pm to 8.00 am the following morning) and over the whole of the weekend (from 6.30 pm on Friday to 8 am on Monday). If you need urgent medical assistance during these times you should telephone the surgery’s usual number (01672-512187); the practice answering machine will indicate a telephone number to call (although it is possible that in due course the number will be published [Note 30 September 2004: The number for the Out of Hours service is 01249-456530]). When you call the out of hours service, the receptionist will arrange for you to discuss the problem with a nurse (and you may be called back). This may then lead to an appointment at Savernake Hospital, or to a doctor’s visit. Patients living in the Marlborough area will not be asked to attend for an appointment at Chippenham. We must stress, though, that although patients may be seen at Savernake Hospital, you should normally telephone first, and attend the hospital only when you have been given an appointment.
Because the Out of Hours service will be operating on Saturday mornings, we have decided also that the surgery will in future be closed on Saturday mornings with effect from Saturday 2 October. However, we will be improving our Dispensary weekday opening hours, by opening at 2 pm on weekday afternoons instead of at 3 pm. This will be from Monday 4 October.
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We understand that some may regret these changes, and we are sorry that a small number of patients may be inconvenienced by our ceasing to open on Saturday mornings (although at the same time we are making a significant improvement to Dispensary opening hours on weekdays).
However, we also consider that the changes are essential to enable an efficient Out of Hours service to be provided, which does not place inappropriate stresses on GPs (who often hitherto have been oncall and working overnight, whilst still having to do a normal day’s work the next day).
If you would like to ask any questions about the new arrangements, please contact our Practice Manager, Michael Reynolds.
Dr David Maurice
Senior Partner
12 August 2004
Support to
Stop Smoking Service (Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT)
The Kennet
and North Wiltshire PCT is making available specialist advice to help people who
want to give up smoking. You may choose between individual support (at the
Surgery) or group support (at Savernake Hospital) to help you through those
difficult early weeks of quitting when the cravings are strongest. Leaflets
explaining the service are available at reception. Telephone 01672 512187 to
book your first appointment.