Chipping Norton Health Centre is a dispensing practice that currently dispenses medication to approximately 5,000 patients.
The dispensing of medicines is regulated by the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013.
These regulations permit GP practices to dispense medications to patients under very strict criteria.
Current national legislation permits us to dispense medication only to patients who live more than one mile (1.6 km) away from the nearest pharmacy, as the crow flies.
If you meet this criteria and would like to use our dispensary services, please register at the reception or dispensary.
Pharmaself24 (24/7 medicine vending machine)
As a registered dispensing patient, you can collect your medicine from PharmaSelf24, a 24/7 medicine vending machine at the Health Centre. Please complete the registration form available at the reception or the dispensary if you want to use the machine.
Serious difficulty rule
Patients who do not qualify under the mileage rule may apply to NHS England under the serious difficulty rule.
Patients with serious difficulty in using the local pharmacy because of distance or inadequate means of communication may apply to remain on their doctor’s dispensing list, but there are very strict conditions to be met in this regard.
If you believe that the serious difficulty rule might apply to you, please ask the dispensary team for an Application for Dispensing Status under the serious difficulty rule – NHS England form.
Your nearest pharmacy
If you live within one mile of a pharmacy, you can get your medication from any pharmacy but not the surgery dispensary.
These are NHS rules which we have to follow strictly. If you are unsure where your nearest chemist is, please visit the NHS Website – Find a Pharmacy and enter your postcode.