Page 14 - P4304.1-V94_PS-Magazine-February 2024 PRINT

Understanding the

Differences: General

Medical Services

Dispensing Contract

vs. Pharmacy Contract

By Caroline Pond

Often when dispensers or technicians are recruited into a
dispensary, they come with experience from working in a
pharmacy and this is surely a plus. However, lack of knowledge
about the new working environment can often cause confusion
and sometimes upset within the existing team when the new
member reverts to what they know and tries to recreate the
pharmacy they know so well.

Understanding the differences between the way a dispensary works and the
way a pharmacy functions is important for the new staff member and should
constitute part of their on-boarding. But in order to train that member
of staff appropriately we need to be very clear about the key differences
ourselves; I hope this brief overview will help.

In the United Kingdom, healthcare delivery relies on a complex network
of services and contracts to ensure the safe and efficient provision of
medications to patients. Two primary contracts govern the dispensing of
medications: the General Medical Services (GMS) Dispensing Contract and
the Pharmacy Contract. These contracts play a pivotal role in shaping the
way healthcare professionals work and impact the overall patient experience.
General Medical Services (GMS) Dispensing

Contract

The GMS Dispensing Contract is an arrangement that allows general
practitioners (GPs) to dispense medications directly to their patients. This
contract is typically relevant to GP practices located in rural or remote
areas, where patients may have limited access to traditional pharmacies.
GPs under this contract are permitted to dispense medications directly
to patients registered with their practice. Dispensary staff, in a dispensing
practice, are therefore dispensing in a delegated role on behalf of the GP.

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