17 fewer English practices
By Dr Allan Tennant
27th of October 2014
Data published by the NHSBA recently shows that in April 2014 there has been a reduction of 17 dispensing practices, whilst numbers of doctors continues to rise.
The number of dispensing patients also fell by 40,000. However, the number of medical patients per practice continues to rise.
These figures reflect the continued opening of co-located pharmacies in rural general practice and practice amalgamations. Currently the latter have increased markedly.
Any dispensing practice considering amalgamation should seek advice on affect of amalgamation on their dispensing list. Members can contact the DDA Office for advice.
The table below provides the headline figures for the past 12 years. Click here for more analysis.
| England | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
| Dispensing Doctors | 4842 | 4995 | 5118 | 5279 | 5353 | 5311 | 5553 | 5,731 | 5778 | 5830 | 6061 | 6206 | 6300 |
| Dispensing Practices | 1176 | 1174 | 1181 | 1179 | 1166 | 1149 | 1135 | 1139 | 1129 | 1118 | 1086 | 1076 | 1059 |
| Dispensing Patients (Millions) | 3.37 | 3.41 | 3.45 | 3.48 | 3.48 | 3.49 | 3.51 | 3.51 | 3.46 | 3.43 | 3.34 | 3.31 | 3.27 |
| Medical Patients in a dispensing practice (Millions) | 8.274 | 8.274 | 8.213 | 8.270 | 8.23 | 8.16 | |||||||
| Dispensing Patients per Practice | 2865 | 2908 | 2923 | 2950 | 2986 | 3038 | 3093 | 3085 | 3063 | 3064 | 3079 | 3073 | 3085 |
| Medical patients per practice | 7264 | 7329 | 7346 | 7615 | 7649 | 7705 | |||||||
| Dispensing Patients per Doctor | 696 | 683 | 674 | 659 | 650 | 657 | 632 | 613 | 599 | 588 | 552 | 533 | 519 |
| Dispensing Doctors per Practice | 4.12 | 4.25 | 4.33 | 4.48 | 4.59 | 4.62 | 4.89 | 5.03 | 5.12 | 5.21 | 5.58 | 5.77 | 5.95 |
