M

Member

Speaking in the House of Lords on 17 June 2025

Debate

Human Medicines (Amendments Relating to Hub and Spoke Dispensing etc.) Regulations 2025

Contribution

Secondly, we must consider the crucial matter of patient safety and the preservation of clinical expertise. The dispensing of medicines is not merely a logistical exercise but a complex, professional act demanding precision, clinical judgment and direct patient interaction. When this process is fragmented, with the initial dispensing removed from the point of patient collection, what robust mechanisms will be put in place to prevent errors and verify the correct medication for the correct patient? That is particularly important for complex prescriptions or for those requiring immediate consultation. We need absolute assurance that the pursuit of efficiency will not, even inadvertently, erode the critical layers of human oversight and professional accountability that safeguard patients. Furthermore, if the role of the spoke pharmacist is reduced to little more than a collection point, how do we ensure that their skills remain honed and their capacity for vital clinical intervention is maintained rather than diminished?

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