Pharmacy closures: Dispensing doctors urge ‘deserted’ rural patients to seek their service

The Dispensing Doctors’ Association (DDA) is advising patients left deserted due to pharmacy closures in rural areas to consult their general practice about
accessing the GP dispensing service.

This recommendation comes in response to concerns that England’s rural areas are increasingly becoming pharmacy ‘deserts’, posing challenges for residents to access
essential medications and healthcare services.

DDA chairman Dr Richard West said: “The GP dispensing service is designed to ensure NHS medicine supply in areas where people have little or no access to a pharmacy
service.

“People in rural areas who now live more than a mile from a pharmacy should speak to their GP about whether they can receive the NHS GP dispensing service.”