Luton clinical commissioning group (CCG) introduced a scheme last year to ensure the “vast majority” of patients order their medicines directly from a GP, rather than through a pharmacy, it told C+D.

The scheme, which C+D learned this month has since been copied by two other CCGs , was designed to “ensure patients receive the right medication” and help the organisation tackle a £2.1 million annual overspend on wasted medicines, it said.

But Bedfordshire local pharmaceutical committee (LPC) chair Coll Michaels told C+D on Monday (August 22) that the scheme has contributed to a “huge reduction in footfall” to his pharmacy over 18 months, which has hit his income and forced him to reduce his staff’s hours.

Mr Michaels, a contractor in Luton, said only four of the 26 GP surgeries his pharmacy previously served still accept its repeat prescription orders – and his business's footfall has fallen by 30% as a result, he estimated.

“As a business we are dependent on over-the-counter trade for a certain proportion of our income. People are not coming in to order their repeat prescriptions, and that’s the worst effect of all,” he told C+D.

Pharmacists question savings claims

The CCG announced last October that the “vast majority” of GP surgeries in Luton had adopted the model, and it estimated it had already saved around £400,000 in four months. The scheme also won two awards judged by NHS experts in medicines use, it added.

But local pharmacists told C+D there is still a “question mark” over the amount of savings that have been achieved, as the CCG is yet to publish a full evaluation – which is due to be published in October.

Bedfordshire LPC chief officer Gerald Zeidman told C+D it was unclear how the CCG had generated the apparent savings.

“We are uncomfortable with what they are claiming,” he added. “I’m not sure that we can say at the moment that the different system has resulted in savings. It’s frustrating not to have the facts and figures.”

CCG response

A spokesperson for Luton CCG told C+D yesterday (August 24) that it had distributed best practice guidelines – which were developed in collaboration with the LPC – to local GPs and pharmacies to help them implement the initiative.

“Although the evaluation is currently underway…patient relationships are improving, and GPs feel they are pre-empting more potential safety issues concerning patient medication,” the spokesperson added.

Read one C+D blogger's view on the dangers of scrapping pharmacy repeat prescriptions