RCGP response to National Audit Office report on
prescribing costs in primary care
Professor Mayur Lakhani, Chair of the Royal College of General
Practitioners (RCGP), says:
“We reject the impression given by the press
statement accompanying this report that GPs are complacent in their
choice of prescriptions. GPs consider their prescribing decisions
very carefully but are often hampered by the lack of clear
information on best choices in what is a rapidly changing and
unstable pricing situation.
“As a practising GP I also know that many
prescriptions are started by hospitals who use a different list of
approved drugs which may not represent the best value for money. It
should also be recognised that patients do not like frequent
switches of drugs and many are suspicious of reasons for change,
seeing it as cost cutting.
“Practices are now routinely monitored on
their prescribing and GPs have made major strides in improving the
quality and efficiency of prescribing. However, we agree that more
steps should be taken to tackle the situation. Most practices I
know are determined to improve even further but are hampered by a
lack of practical support. We would urge PCTs to provide more face
to face prescribing support from credible advisers, as recommended
by the NAO report.”
Ends
For more information please contact Lorna
Fletcher in the RCGP press office 020 7344 3136 / press@rcgp.org.uk
Read on for the NAO report