Doctors and pharmacists in north Essex should get together to save a vital service, according to GPs’ representatives.

Dr Gary Sweeney, chairman of the North Essex Local Medical Committee, said GP surgeries should work with pharmacies to protect its right to dispense medication directly to patients.

At present patients who live more than a mile from their nearest chemist can get medication dispensed directly from their GP, but under new Government proposals this could be changed to the distance from the GP surgery to the two nearest pharmacies.

There are currently 14 dispensing practices in north east Essex.

He said: “What I would like to see is for GPs and community pharmacists working together in the area to find a solution rather than having something imposed on them.

“If they could sit down with the PCT we could work out a solution which would work for everyone.

“We don’t want a war between local pharmacists and GPs but if the Government continues down this path then that’s what we might get.”

Dr Sweeney said dispensing pharmacies had an important role to play, especially in rural areas.

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