BRIAN THOMAS, of Abbotskerswell, writes: My GP surgery, along with o thers in the South Devon and Torbay area, is planning to change its prescription service from September 1 to prevent direct third-party involvement, including that of pharmacies. This is allegedly to reduce ‘the amount of wasted medication which is dispensed to patients and not used’. Though this is a commendable waste-saving idea at face value, the changes set out in a letter re-introduce a slow, disruptive and time-wasting prescription service that was replaced by a swift and efficient pharmacy-direct service a few years ago. Instead of dealing directly with a more centrally-located pharmacy that dispenses prescriptions in one transaction – immediately, whenever they are due to be renewed – the patient will now have to request a prescription themselves, go to their surgery to get their prescription slip, which takes ‘at least two working days to provide’, and then take it to the

chosen pharmacy, which ‘will need three to five days after receiving the prescription to order and assemble it for collection’, the letter states. In my case, and I am sure in the case of many older and elderly clients, this will mean both u nnecessary delays in accessing medication and extra trips to less-accessible surgeries than one-stop-shop town centre p harmacies. Whose bright idea was it to make this already efficient system so cumbersome once again, apparently ‘to improve safety and efficiency’? It seems to be ‘the Patient Experience Team at South Devon and Torbay Clinical Commissioning Group’, whoever they are. True, one can post a prescription to the surgery (more delay) or order one from your surgery online, though this will still take the two/three to five waiting days. To sign up to go on-line you need to access Systmonline, which requires you to send an ID photo of yourself along with your personal details.

That’s fine, up to a point. However, you are placing personal information and facial recognition on an NHS computer system that has been regularly accessed unlawfully and to be linked to that, and with a required photo ID as well, provides an open invitation to professional hackers who may not have your best interests in mind. I am also concerned that the l etter, received by me on August 5, announces this change without any apparent patient consultation and less than four weeks before the ‘revised’ system is introduced. A final point about the way this surgery letter has been worded. The surgery is, in tandem, seeking permission to share your medical data with ‘other NHS professionals’ and there is a form to fill in where you have the choice of ‘Express Consent’ or ‘Express Dissent’ on this issue (no simple yes or no here!). However, if you decide not to approve you have to ‘fully accept the risks associated with this decision’, which could have been less ominously stated.

Prescription ‘changes’ likely to cause delays

SEAN BROGAN, of Coombe Vale Road, Teignmouth, writes: I have always believed that a hospital had wards and beds! A hospital without beds is a clinic! If the South Devon Coastal Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has its way, this is what will happen to Teignmouth Hospital. It looks like the CCG will make a decision over the summer and have a ‘consultaltion’ with the people of Teignmouth, Shaldon and Bishopsteignton in the autumn. The omens do not look good, our local doctors were sent warning letters by NHS England in the last ‘consultation’ to keep out of public meetings. Our Teignmouth County Councillor, Sylvia Russell, showed her colours at the last health scrutiny meeting at County Hall when she seconded a motion not to refer the massive

bed closures in East Devon to Health Secretary Hunt. This referral was the last gasp by campaigners to save community hospitals of Honiton etc. Within days the maternity units in Okehampton and Honiton were closed! So with a friend like this, Teignmouth Hospital does not need enemies! This is all about austerity and cuts – £70 million for South Devon alone and an agenda which was kept hidden in the recent general election. Teignmouth hospital was bombed by the Nazis in 1941 – rebuilt by the people’s NHS in 1954 – sustained by millions raised by the League of Friends. If we are not to add to its epitaph ‘closed and sold off by the Tories in 20??’ there has to be an offensive. Better to have fought back against this than not fought at all!