A GP practice using electronic prescriptions has been given a stern warning for recommending an online pharmacy company to patients but not mentioning any local outlets.
NHS South East London has censured a surgery in Lambeth, London, which wrote to patients to tell them that their prescriptions could be sent to Pharmacy2U.
A spokesperson for NHS South East London said: ‘Prescribers should not seek to persuade a patient to nominate a certain dispenser. Instead if a patient asks the prescriber to recommend a dispenser, then the prescriber should provide the patient with a list of all the dispensers in the area who provide the electronic prescription service.
‘Patients are then free to nominate a pharmacy of their choice. We have been in contact with the practice in question to reiterate the regulations.’