Dispensing Doctors' Association

21/04/2026

The Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly elections on May 7 are an opportunity to correct health inequalities for rural people.
On behalf of rural GPs, the Dispensing Doctors' Association (DDA) calls on local politicians to raise their voices on behalf of constituents who are regularly failed by health policy.
In its new manifesto, the DDA calls on you to work with us to create a GP service that always takes into account the unique needs of rural dispensing GP patients.
The DDA’s manifesto makes recommendations to reduce inequalities in rural healthcare services in Scotland and Wales. These recommendations are designed to support positive change in four areas:
Quality
Cost-effectiveness
Safety
Innovation

Download the DDA election manifestos and lobbying resources at:

The Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly elections on May 7 are an opportunity to correct health inequalities for rural people.

18/03/2026

New plans to make pharmacies the first point of contact in NHS prescribing make no mention of rural areas, and the vital role of dispensing GPs in the medicines supply chain. Many dispensing GPs will also question how fairly the funds to be held by the new integrated health organisations (IHOs) will be allocated.

Supporting the DDA to support you through the changes has never been more important. The BMA consults with the DDA over dispensing, as the DDA is the only organisation to solely represent dispensing GPs across Great Britain. Help us to ensure your voice is heard

News » England, Pharmacy Owners' News, Political News, Rurality » Pharmacies seen as first point of contact in new NHS prescribing plans

11/03/2026

Robotic hubs, hub-and-spoke systems and home delivery services are expected to keep rural community-based services “within practical reach”, a new Government report says.
Equalities impact assessment: 10 Year Health Plan for England highlights that access to medication remains a core issue for many disabled people. It suggests that the proposed expansion of community pharmacy services - including vaccine delivery and more convenient dispensing - should have a positive impact in reducing “over-reliance” on hospital or GP-based services.

So, is this good or bad news for NHS dispensing GPs (who, incidentally, are not mentioned in the report at all)?

Well, of course, technology that eases workload and improves the customer experience (and, given that we are talking about medicines - safety) is always welcome. There'll be plenty of cutting edge examples exhibiting at our 2026 conference.

But the real challenge lies in an uneven playing field.

The report is clear that it is community pharmacy that is expected to increase "options" for those who may struggle to access or engage with traditional GP services. How this works in rural areas where pharmacies have never been viable - and are unlikely to suddenly become so - is unclear.

Also, where does this leave the NHS GP dispensing service that already exists in rural areas?

In it's "Addressing the disparities" report, the DDA is clear that the field is already uneven in terms of funding for implementing dispensing tech. Making it more so will not help those patients who already struggle to access rural health services, particularly, when access could be more easily improved by sustainable funding to support the tech infrastructure for NHS dispensing GPs.

https://www.dispensingdoctor.org/news/dispensing-technology-highlighted-in-rural-medication-access-report/

12/02/2026

If you listen to the DHSC, the dispensing GP dispensing fee can cover it all - including the four-figure costs of installing and running electronic prescription service dispensing software. Ministers sincerely believe that, unlike pharmacies, dispensing GPs have a magic stash of cash with which to cover those costs. However, if you listen to our latest podcast, dispensing GPs across GB will tell you something very different. Listen in at https://www.dispensingdoctor.org/about-the-dda/dda-political-activity/podcasts/

11/02/2026

The DDA has published four films to support the publication of its latest briefing paper: Dispensing Practice in England - Addressing the disparities

The films take a look at the disparities in dispensing GP funding, dispensing GP IT and dispensing quality incentives, compared to community pharmacies.

The briefing paper makes 10 recommendations for DHSC/NHSE including to reform of drug reimbursement costs and reform the discount abatement (clawback) system. There are also suggestions how to improve the Electronic Prescription Service in dispensing GPs (podcast update soon to follow).

DDA members are encouraged to contact local politicians with details of the briefing papers (also available for Welsh dispensing practices).

Contact details for local politicians can be found on our website

The DDA has published four films to support the publication of its latest briefing paper: Dispensing Practice in England - Addressing the disparities

26/01/2026

20 minutes that might just change your life.
The new DDA podcast is out now! Listen in to hear what changes the smarter dispensary can make to improve profitability and efficiency.
The fourth in the series, DDA Board Member Mark Stone, pharmacist partner at the Tamar Valley Practice in Cornwall, looks at the changes to workflow and layout, buying and use of technology that the smarter dispensary can make.
https://www.dispensingdoctor.org/about-the-dda/dda-political-activity/podcasts/

09/01/2026

Congratulations on completing the first full working week of the year.
If it's all too much already, please do consider the ways the DDA and the wide expertise of its Board Members and Executive Team could help reduce your pain.
Read our weekly newsletter for more information on the dispensing news you need to know

04/12/2025

"Frosty" relations between the BMA and the DHSC leave dispensing contract negotiations in a fragile state. However, the DDA has a plan of action to protect dispensing practices as the challenges of 2025 fade into the New Year.
Listen in to hear how the DDA will approach the challenges of 2026 in this new (third) podcast
Visit the DDA podcast library https://www.dispensingdoctor.org/about-the-dda/dda-political-activity/podcasts/

13/11/2025

Congratulations to our Welsh chair Dr Fiona Porter for getting the message out that dispensing practice matters in rural areas.

Read all about it.

The sustainability of dispensing practice in Wales has been debated in the Welsh Senedd, following representation by the DDA.

31/10/2025

It's Friday, and All Hallows Eve (Halloween to me or you). Did you know that the English word 'Halloween' comes from "All Hallows' Eve"?
That is the name given to the evening before the Christian holy days of [All Hallows' Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints%27_Day) (All Saints' Day) on 1 November and [All Souls' Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Souls%27_Day) on 2 November.

No? Well, education is just one of the things we do at the DDA - and all free of charge as part of your membership.

Read all about it in today's newsletter. Online on the DDA website https://www.dispensingdoctor.org/about-the-dda/dda-executive-communications/dda-weekly-newsletters/

DHSC has published an initial list of adjusted prices for October   This list details 38 prices. Changes are marked in bold and the fully updated lists are available as downloadable spreadsheets.

24/10/2025

It's Friday and that means it's DDA newsletter day. Please take the time to read it, as the Cheshire Cat said "The uninformed must improve their deficit, or die.” And we definitely don't want that... especially on a Friday
Read the newsletter at

 The DDA podcast, our website (relaunched in 2024) our member-only (pictured) and public Facebook groups and X channel - not to mention this weekly newsletter - are just some of the ways that we keep dispensing GPs informed about the important issues affecting dispensing GPs. Keeping you up-to-da...

11/10/2025

The DDA quite often receives queries from practices about eligibility when a patient has used a pharmacy (short- or long-term) but then realises the "error of their ways" and wants to come back to the GP dispensary service.

There are a number of resources available to DDA members to help you navigate such situations. See
https://www.dispensingdoctor.org/resources/dispensary-management-zone/faqs-dispensary-management-zone/can-dispensing-patients-also-use-pharmacy-affect-dispensing-rights/

and you can test your understanding at https://www.dispensingdoctor.org/resources/dispensary-management-zone/dispensary-guidance/patient-eligibility/

Have fun and get your big fat dispensary welcome ready