Page 6 - P4304.1-V109_PS Magazine - May 2025 (print)

A view from

the DDA...

Matthew Isom has been the Chief Executive of the
Dispensing Doctors’ Association (DDA) for the past
13 years, representing the interests of dispensing
doctors and ensuring their voices are heard within
the NHS. With nearly three decades of experience
advocating for GPs, Matthew has witnessed
numerous NHS reorganisations and understands
the unique challenges faced by rural and remote
practices. We asked Matthew to share his thoughts
on the current landscape for dispensing doctors and
the pressing issues they face today.

As I write this, the Prime “the organisations’ names Nonetheless, I am pleased
Minister has just announced might change but the to see the back of NHS
that the government is going patients will still be ringing England. It never really
to abolish NHS England. up for appointments and seemed to grasp the
sitting in the surgery waiting importance of general
I don’t know about you, but rooms.” There must have practice, especially rural
I am very ambivalent about been well over ten further dispensing practices. Most
this latest development in reorganisations since, and he of the contractual changes
NHS management. Having could not have been seem to have reflected the
been representing GPs more right. needs of urban metropolitan
for nearly thirty years, I communities. Primary Care
can remember numerous All that happens in these Networks (PCNs) and other
reorganisations. All of situations is that the so-called innovations
them promised much and organisation changes seem to lend themselves to
delivered very little. They its focus from day-to- large communities where
have not been dubbed day management to the there is public transport and
‘redisorganisations’ mechanics of the staff good communications.
for nothing. preserving their jobs or
getting a new one. All the
My first boss, who had been corporate memory, or what
a practising GP and then remains of it, will disappear
become a Local Medical and whatever ends up in its
Committee (LMC) Chief place will be grossly inferior
Executive, once said to me: to what preceded it.
6 6 P S M a g a z i n e | A V i e w F r o m T h e D D A B u y d i r e c t o n l i n e a t P S U K . co . u k
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