Search
Our Supporters
You are here: News » News Archive 2010 » Millport pharmacy application
Millport pharmacy application
Sensationalist story in The Herald
Dr Allan Tennant reports
29th of July 2010
Island drug war ... on the mean streets of Millport is the headline in The Herald
A sensationalist story in the Herald has given more air to Mr James Semple's feeling of victimisation and his view that medical services will not be impacted by his God given right to make money.
In the article Mr Semple suggests that he is the victim of an orchestrated campaign, which is refuted by the doctors and a pharmacist who is making an alternative application.
The article reports that the island will lose one of its three doctors if doctor dispensing goes and quotes "others" as saying "two doctors is plenty for the island."
Mr Semple also says "Apparently many people support a pharmacy but are too scared to go public."
The article says "The Scottish Government says where a community can support a pharmacy it should have one, as it offers more services and a check on prescriptions. "
Dr Nick Chapman, DDA board member said in response, "The loss of dispensary will reduce subsidy to the practice which will not be able to offer medical services currently being provided. Pharmacy will not be a integrated system and so it will be less safe and the patients will ultimately suffer."
Dr Richard West, Chairman of the DDA said, "I would like to know how checks without the medical record are safer than with them. The reality of the cross subsidy of rural medical services by doctor dispensing cannot be ignored."