New framework for pharmacies

Patients will be able to get repeat prescriptions and blood pressure tests from their community pharmacies from today as a new contractual framework comes into force.

Local chemists will be able to review medicine use for long-term sufferers and dispose of unwanted medicines, as well as offer advice on issues such as healthy eating, stopping smoking and regular exercise.

In addition, the NHS will pay chemists according to the range and quality of services they provide rather than volume of medicine dispensed.

“Under the new contract you won’t have to go back to your doctor every time you need to renew your prescription,” health secretary John Reid said. “Instead, your doctor can give you a prescription lasting up to a year and your pharmacist can dispense your medicines as and when you need them.