§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Southern health and social services board received a request from Dr. Mary Allen to be allowed to dispense in her Cullyhanna medical practice. [29607]
§ Mr. MossA request was received in November 1994.
The general principle under the legislation governing dispensing arrangements is that doctors should prescribe and pharmacists dispense. Exceptionally, if a health and social services board is satisfied that patients are experiencing serious difficulty in obtaining their medicines from a pharmacist, it may require the doctor to dispense for those patients. This action is taken only if alternative arrangements cannot be made with pharmacists.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what are the current dispensing arrangements for the Cullyhanna area; and what assessment of the dispensing 295W requirements of the residents of the Cullyhanna area has been made by (a) the Southern health and social services board, (b) the Central Services Agency and (c) the Department of Health and Social Services; [29608]
(2) what steps are being taken to ensure that the dispensing requirements of the residents of Cullyhanna area are being fully satisfied. [29610]
§ Mr. MossPatients in the Cullyhanna area are served by pharmacies in Newtownhamilton and Crossmaglen. The Southern health and social services board is currently reviewing the dispensing arrangements and needs in the Cullyhanna area and this will include the possibility of a delivery service being provided by pharmacists. Neither the Central Services Agency nor the Department of Health and Social Services has been involved, as this is primarily a matter for the board.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals have been received, and on what dates, for the provision of dispensing facilities for the residents of the Cullyhanna area, by(a) the Southern health and social services board, (b) the Central Services Agency and (c) the Department of Health and Social Services. [29609]
§ Mr. MossDr. Mary Allen contacted the Southern health and social services board in November 1994 requesting the right to dispense for her patients in Cullyhanna. At the same time, the Cullyhanna community committee wrote to the board indicating that some residents in Cullyhanna were experiencing difficulty in obtaining medication. Neither the Central Services Agency nor the Department of Health and Social Services has received any proposals.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Southern Health and Social Services Board has taken to ensure that a speedy decision is made in relation to the dispensing requirements of the residents of the Cullyhanna area. [29611]
§ Mr. MossThe Southern health and social services board asked Dr. Allen to provide a list of her patients who were having serious difficulty in obtaining medicines. The board has received that list and will be contacting these patients and considering whether their difficulties can be resolved by the provision of an improved community pharmacy service. If such a service cannot be provided, the board may require Dr. Allen to dispense.