Dispensing Doctors' Association

07/05/2026

We're delighted to welcome Pierre Fabre and AGB Pharma to the DDA 2026 conference at the Birmingham National Conference Centre on Sept 30-Oct 1. This brings the total number of exhibitors to 36.

The programme is also nearly confirmed with the new-for-this-year dispenser breakout sessions on practical issues such as understanding the drug statement, MDS trays, DSQS audit, common drug errors, VAT & PA and using the DM&D browser to support profitability.

Places are free to DDA members, and if you're not a DDA member - what better reason to join?
Find out more at https://www.dispensingdoctor.org/conference/

01/05/2026

The announcement today (May 1) of the second consecutive month of record high numbers of concession (and adjusted) Tariff prices is very concerning. These record high volumes of drug tariff adjustments are rapidly becoming the norm, reflecting the unprecedented fragility and instability in the medicines supply chain and its sensitivity to geopolitical events.

In addition, NHS GP dispensaries have to deal with the challenges of not receiving the pricing concession of 'discount not deducted' - unlike community pharmacies.

At the grass-roots level, the consequences are the potential for serious financial losses and increasingly intolerable workload implications. It's also deeply unfair to a service that provides vital NHS medicines supplies in areas where pharmacies are not viable.
https://www.dispensingdoctor.org/news/drug-tariff-updates-10/

29/04/2026

Want to know what's happening with the dispensing GP contracts in England, Scotland and Wales? Listen in to what the GPCs have to say in our latest podcast
Want to know what's happening with the contracts in England, Scotland and Wales? Listen in to the GPCs in our latest podcast
https://www.dispensingdoctor.org/about-the-dda/dda-political-activity/podcasts/

21/04/2026

The Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly elections on May 7 are an opportunity to correct health inequalities for rural people.
On behalf of rural GPs, the Dispensing Doctors' Association (DDA) calls on local politicians to raise their voices on behalf of constituents who are regularly failed by health policy.
In its new manifesto, the DDA calls on you to work with us to create a GP service that always takes into account the unique needs of rural dispensing GP patients.
The DDA’s manifesto makes recommendations to reduce inequalities in rural healthcare services in Scotland and Wales. These recommendations are designed to support positive change in four areas:
Quality
Cost-effectiveness
Safety
Innovation

Download the DDA election manifestos and lobbying resources at:

The Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly elections on May 7 are an opportunity to correct health inequalities for rural people.

18/03/2026

New plans to make pharmacies the first point of contact in NHS prescribing make no mention of rural areas, and the vital role of dispensing GPs in the medicines supply chain. Many dispensing GPs will also question how fairly the funds to be held by the new integrated health organisations (IHOs) will be allocated.

Supporting the DDA to support you through the changes has never been more important. The BMA consults with the DDA over dispensing, as the DDA is the only organisation to solely represent dispensing GPs across Great Britain. Help us to ensure your voice is heard

News » England, Pharmacy Owners' News, Political News, Rurality » Pharmacies seen as first point of contact in new NHS prescribing plans

11/03/2026

Robotic hubs, hub-and-spoke systems and home delivery services are expected to keep rural community-based services “within practical reach”, a new Government report says.
Equalities impact assessment: 10 Year Health Plan for England highlights that access to medication remains a core issue for many disabled people. It suggests that the proposed expansion of community pharmacy services - including vaccine delivery and more convenient dispensing - should have a positive impact in reducing “over-reliance” on hospital or GP-based services.

So, is this good or bad news for NHS dispensing GPs (who, incidentally, are not mentioned in the report at all)?

Well, of course, technology that eases workload and improves the customer experience (and, given that we are talking about medicines - safety) is always welcome. There'll be plenty of cutting edge examples exhibiting at our 2026 conference.

But the real challenge lies in an uneven playing field.

The report is clear that it is community pharmacy that is expected to increase "options" for those who may struggle to access or engage with traditional GP services. How this works in rural areas where pharmacies have never been viable - and are unlikely to suddenly become so - is unclear.

Also, where does this leave the NHS GP dispensing service that already exists in rural areas?

In it's "Addressing the disparities" report, the DDA is clear that the field is already uneven in terms of funding for implementing dispensing tech. Making it more so will not help those patients who already struggle to access rural health services, particularly, when access could be more easily improved by sustainable funding to support the tech infrastructure for NHS dispensing GPs.

https://www.dispensingdoctor.org/news/dispensing-technology-highlighted-in-rural-medication-access-report/

12/02/2026

If you listen to the DHSC, the dispensing GP dispensing fee can cover it all - including the four-figure costs of installing and running electronic prescription service dispensing software. Ministers sincerely believe that, unlike pharmacies, dispensing GPs have a magic stash of cash with which to cover those costs. However, if you listen to our latest podcast, dispensing GPs across GB will tell you something very different. Listen in at https://www.dispensingdoctor.org/about-the-dda/dda-political-activity/podcasts/

11/02/2026

The DDA has published four films to support the publication of its latest briefing paper: Dispensing Practice in England - Addressing the disparities

The films take a look at the disparities in dispensing GP funding, dispensing GP IT and dispensing quality incentives, compared to community pharmacies.

The briefing paper makes 10 recommendations for DHSC/NHSE including to reform of drug reimbursement costs and reform the discount abatement (clawback) system. There are also suggestions how to improve the Electronic Prescription Service in dispensing GPs (podcast update soon to follow).

DDA members are encouraged to contact local politicians with details of the briefing papers (also available for Welsh dispensing practices).

Contact details for local politicians can be found on our website

The DDA has published four films to support the publication of its latest briefing paper: Dispensing Practice in England - Addressing the disparities

26/01/2026

20 minutes that might just change your life.
The new DDA podcast is out now! Listen in to hear what changes the smarter dispensary can make to improve profitability and efficiency.
The fourth in the series, DDA Board Member Mark Stone, pharmacist partner at the Tamar Valley Practice in Cornwall, looks at the changes to workflow and layout, buying and use of technology that the smarter dispensary can make.
https://www.dispensingdoctor.org/about-the-dda/dda-political-activity/podcasts/

09/01/2026

Congratulations on completing the first full working week of the year.
If it's all too much already, please do consider the ways the DDA and the wide expertise of its Board Members and Executive Team could help reduce your pain.
Read our weekly newsletter for more information on the dispensing news you need to know

04/12/2025

"Frosty" relations between the BMA and the DHSC leave dispensing contract negotiations in a fragile state. However, the DDA has a plan of action to protect dispensing practices as the challenges of 2025 fade into the New Year.
Listen in to hear how the DDA will approach the challenges of 2026 in this new (third) podcast
Visit the DDA podcast library https://www.dispensingdoctor.org/about-the-dda/dda-political-activity/podcasts/