Vol. 471 No. 2
76 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the initial feedback on the new arrangements for patients discharged from hospital at weekends to obtain their medication from their pharmacy without having to obtain a prescription from their general practitioners; the concerns, if any, which have been brought to his attention in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20513/96]
Limerick East): Until 1 July 1996, persons with established eligibility under the general medical services scheme, who were provided with a prescription form on their discharge from a hospital had to request a general practitioner participating in the general medical services scheme to transcribe the prescribed items onto a GMS prescription form, in order for such items to be dispensed free of charge for that person. This arrangement created difficulties for those discharged from hospital late in the day, on weekends or other times outside normal surgery hours or who required to have the prescribed items dispensed urgently.
