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Repeat dispensing research demonstrates benefits for GP practices and patients
Research undertaken by Dr John Holden and Graham Brown (Garswood Surgery, St. Helens) examining the introduction of repeat dispensing in their general practice has recently been published in the International Journal of Pharmacy Practice (Holden, J & Brown, G. IJPP 2009; 17: 249-251).
Nearly half the population in the UK receive repeat prescriptions and 75% of all prescribed items are estimated to be repeats, however use of the repeat dispensing service has remained very low.
Holden and Brown looked at the key performance indicators of time saved, patient satisfaction levels and the rates of adoption and continuation with the scheme. Their sample focused on serial repeat-prescribing workload (GPs and receptionists) surveys which were performed each day for a week, five times in the year and a patient satisfaction survey undertaken mid-way through the year. Community pharmacist opinion was informally sought and prescribing costs were checked at the start and end of the year.
The general practice cared for 2886 patients during the time of the survey in 2007, with staff comprising two full-time GPs, two in training and six administrative staff. In June 2007, the patient satisfaction survey was conducted with 56 patients participating. The benefits of repeat dispensing cited by them included the fact they liked being able to collect medication from the pharmacy without the usual two-day wait and the consequent travelling time saved. Over 600 patients of the 2886 total were receiving repeat dispensing after 12 months. By December 2007, 45% of all prescribed items in this practice were repeat-dispensed, compared with less than 1% nationally. Within a year, 21% of patients were on the scheme and the proportion continues to grow.
The authors suggest repeat dispensing can offer substantial time savings - potentially over 2 weeks of GP-time a year and 150 reception hours for the practice sampled. There was also a noticeable reduction in lost and missing prescriptions.
Posted 5 August 2009