§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances non-qualified pharmacists are 443W permitted to dispense prescriptions in (a) chemists' shops and (b) general practitioner practices.
§ Mr. MaloneThe Medicines Act 1968 allows prescription-only medicines and medicines not on the general sales list—pharmacy only—dispensed in retail pharmacies to be supplied only by or under the supervision of a qualified pharmacist. General practitioner practice staff may dispense prescriptions where
- (a) the practice is authorised to provide pharmaceutical services; and
- (b) the doctor is satisfied that they are competent to do so.
§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner practices had(a) a dispensing pharmacy in each of the last five years and (b) a dispensing pharmacy on site.
§ Mr. MaloneThe number of general practitioner practices authorised to provide pharmaceutical services in England in each of the last five years is:
Number 1990 Not available 1991 1,192 1992 1,197 1993 1,202 19941 1,215 1 Provisional. No information is available centrally about whether pharmacies are sited within the practice premises or elsewhere.
§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner fundholding practices had a dispensing pharmacy on site in each of the last four years.
§ Mr. MaloneAt April 1994, 352 general practitioner fundholding practices were authorised to provide pharmaceutical services. Information is not available centrally on whether the dispensing facilities are sited on practice premises or elsewhere.