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A new study published in BMJ Open journal has revealed a significant decline in the number of general practices in England over the past decade, alongside shifts in workforce dynamics and organisational structures. Conducted by researchers from University College London (UCL) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the study analysed data from NHS England, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, and the Care Quality Commission (CQC). They found that, between April 2013 and April 2023, the total number of general practices fell by 20 per cent, dropping from 8,044 to 6,419-an average loss of 178 practices per year. The decline coincided with an 11 per cent increase in the total population registered with a GP practice, which saw average practice list sizes swell by 40 per cent from 6,967 to 9,724 patients. Additionally, the number of unique practice postcodes decreased from 7163 to 5849, representing the loss of 18 per cent practice locations over this period.

"Our main concerns are that the use of what they call an asynchronous supply, where the prescriber neither sees nor talks to the patient at the time they issue the prescription, does lay itself open to perhaps people getting hold of medication that they shouldn't," the Head of Policy, PDA said. The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) engages in a critical conversation on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, shedding light on the online prescribing of weight loss drugs and advocating for safer practices. The PDA's spokesperson, Head of Policy Alima Batchelor, emphasised the importance of adhering to professional guidelines to ensure patient safety and mitigate regulatory concerns. During the feature, the PDA highlighted the complexities and risks associated with online supply chains, stressing the necessity for direct clinical consultations and pharmacist involvement in medication management. ""There are guidelines and advice about verification within the DiCE guidance, but it doesn't go quite far enough for us. We are concerned when patients decline to allow the online prescriber to advise their GP of what they're taking," Batchelor highlighted.