Letter: One-stop health centres invented 45 years ago and then forgotten

Sunday 20 October 1996 23:02 BST

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Sir: The Government can neatly, easily and quickly address the present NHS funding concerns ("Back to the future with cottage hospitals", 16 October) by carrying one of its own White Paper ideas to its logical conclusion.

If community pharmacy were fully integrated into primary care, a saving of pounds 1.5bn could be achieved in the first full year and a slightly smaller sum in subsequent years - say pounds 5.5bn over the lifetime of a government.

lt is a proposal which deserves rapid implementation for the benefit of all those involved - the patients, the professions, the NHS and any government.

DR STEVEN FORD

Haydon Bridge, Northumberland

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Letter: One-stop health centres invented 45 years ago and then forgotten

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