CHEMISTS in County Durham have been selected to take part in a pilot scheme to help patients gain easier access to medicines.

The Durham Dales Primary Care Trust (PCT) is one of only 30 in the country to be chosen to take part in the dispensing programme, which attracted 120 applications from trusts.

The pilot scheme will allow patients to obtain a prescription from their GP, which they can then have dispensed in several instalments, rather than having to go back to their surgery for new prescriptions.

Pharmacists will also be encouraged to speak to patients to check their prescription still meets their needs, so medication is not wasted.

The initiative will involve six Durham Dales GP practices and 14 community pharmacies.

It is hoped that repeat dispensing will help reduce GP workloads, prove easier for patients to get their prescriptions, and improve the relationship between patients and their pharmacist.

Alex Sinclair, pharmaceutical advisor for the care trust, said: "This is an excellent opportunity for the Durham Dales PCT to demonstrate the advantages that repeat dispensing will offer to patient care.

"The project is due to start in the spring and we hope it will not only increase patient convenience, but will reduce pressures on our GPs and cut waste.

"In the first few months, it will be a small trial involving around 30 patients in each GP practice, which will be extended to more patients in the area as systems are established."