About Dispensing Practice

Dispensing doctors are general practitioners (GPs) who provide primary healthcare to around 10.07 million rural patients. Almost 3.58 million of these patients live remotely from a community pharmacy; at the patient's request dispensing doctors are allowed to dispense the medicines they prescribe for these patients.

Only certain patients are eligible to receive dispensing services from a dispensing doctor; in total, around 7% of all prescription items are dispensed by doctors.

The unique benefits of the dispensing doctor service are that it provides access to medicines and general healthcare under one roof.

A total network of 1,084 dispensing practices across Great Britain is located as follows:

England: 935 dispensing practices, 9.54 million registered patients (May 2025) NHS Digital

Scotland: 82 dispensing practices, 217,008 registered patients (November 2025). Public Health Scotland

Wales: 67 dispensing practices, 312,354 registered patients (August 2025) NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership

Briefing Papers

The DDA has produced a number of briefing papers on dispensing practice

Dispensing practice in England: a briefing paper for NHS commissioners: high res version; low res version

Dispensing practice finances: A guide for ICBs (2025)

Dispensing practice finances: A guide for Welsh HBs (2025)

Dispensing practice finances: A guide for Scottish HBs (2025)

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments: a briefing paper for LMCs in England