DDA26: What about dispensing doctors?

What can you do to support the DDA’s political work?

In a seven-point plan for DDA 2026 Conference, DDA Board Member Dr David Jenner urged delegates to do the following:

Make sure your PCN leads know of our issues
Ensure your LMC properly represents you to GPC and locally
Draft motions to LMC conference supporting dispensing doctors
Lobby your MP so they understand the problems, using the DDA’s lobbying resources
Keep in touch with the DDA
Maximise all income opportunities
Make a big noise about dispensing.

For its part, the DDA is actively publicising the issues with MPs/NHSE/DH, it asks: “What about dispensing doctors?” at every pharmacy policy and BMA announcement, and NHS Plan updates and is pushing to co-opt a DDA Board Member onto GPC, Dr Jenner told the conference in his presentation, What needs to change in the dispensing contract (England)? Why are we being overlooked? And how you can help.

The presentation looked at the issues facing dispensing practices on the national level including reimbursement, remuneration (particularly, the dispensing envelope), the DSQS, equivalent access to services/finance as community pharmacy, and the situation for Scottish and Welsh dispensing practices.

He said there were particular challenges presented by the new urban-centric political team, and continuing prioritisation of funding for secondary care. He described the BMA, which negotiates on behalf of dispensing practices, as “split” in its representative duties, as they represent partners and sessional GPs which now comprise 50 per cent of the workforce and increasing.

Looking at neighbourhoods, he urged delegates to: “Follow the money!” He also said they should resist unfunded transfer of work, seek recurrent funding and isolate core contracts from any financial risk.

View the presentation slides.

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