Prescription outsourcing upsets locals

IT was with shock and anger that I read that the Cromwell Medical Centre is bypassing an excellent local pharmacy and sourcing our prescription medicines from an Aucklandbased company.

Apart from the fact that we are at present able to discuss any issues with our local pharmacist at any time, there are bound to be hiccups dealing with an outoftown company. The argument that the Auckland outfit delivers doortodoor, within 48 hours, makes no sense at all when it would appear that the whole of Cromwell, apart from the director of the CMC, has known for at least a couple of years that the Cromwell pharmacy has had a home delivery, sameday service available. Something I would have expected anyone making such a decision would have researched before any decision was made.

Tony Davis Cromwell [Abridged]

THE largest medical centre in Cromwell has decided that during the current crisis, all prescriptions will be sent to an online pharmacy service based in Auckland. This makes no sense at all.

Firstly, it means a significant drop in income for the local pharmacy, which now has no ‘‘walkin’’ business. Already the only other pharmacy in the town has had to close its doors.

Secondly, there must be a greater contamination risk from multiple handling of parcels through a courier service from the North Island. Thirdly, there will be a significant delay in servicing patient's needs because of the increased distance the orders have to travel.

The medical practice I use has a long established and easily used ordering system for prescriptions, either online or by telephone. Orders are then faxed or emailed to the local pharmacy who have an excellent delivery service.

Surely, in these difficult times, we should all be supporting local businesses as well as doing our bit to reduce unnecessary handling and travel.

Jill Scott Cromwell