Good News on dispensing by Doctors

I initially missed this because it came out just before the Kells & Sandwith belection, but I was very pleased to see the extract below from Hansard, making clear that the government has abandoned plans to stop GPs from dispending medicines.


John Mann (Bassetlaw) (Lab): Five thousand of my constituents have written to the Minister, via me, asking that their general practitioners be allowed to continue dispensing. Will he take heed of this Bassetlaw common sense?

Phil Hope: My hon. Friend has been at the forefront of the campaign on the issue of dispensing by doctors. We are analysing the responses to the consultation on pharmaceutical provision in England , and we will be making an announcement on these wider issues as soon as possible in the new year. I am aware of the strength of the responses we received on the various options for amending the criteria for dispensing by doctors. We have taken into account the views of those attending the listening events, the meetings and so on, and as a result I am pleased to announce to him that there will be no change to the current arrangements on GPs dispensing medicines to their patients.

We need to get moving on the new hospital

At Copeland Council's December meeting, the council leader agreed with me that we need to press the NHS Trusts to take a decision as quickly as possible on the new West Cumberland Hospital.

Following on £35 billion of cuts in government spending plans in the Pre-Budget Report, the longer it takes to get a decision the greater the risk that when they are finally ready to start building the money we have been promised will no longer be there.

Of greatest concern was the comment from the leader that there does not appear to be an adequate process to get things moving.

The other thing we agreed on is that the hospital should be in Whitehaven.