Dozens of jobs could be lost across Shropshire and thousands of patients inconvenienced under Government plans to scrap dispensing pharmacies at GP surgeries, it was claimed today.

Hardest-hit will be the old, poor and disabled – particularly in rural areas, campaigners say. And they are urging the public to bombard the Government with complaints about the threat to local services.

The issue has been highlighted by Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard and Newport GP Dr Aidan Egleston who hope that “people power” will get ministers to change their mind.

The controversy is over proposals currently out to consultation to streamline the way in which patients get prescriptions.

Four options are on the table, only one of them would safeguard dispensing pharmacies at GP surgeries.

The Dispensing Doctors’ Association warns it could mean 5,000 redundancies in rural areas, surgery closures and a reduction in service for patients who would have to travel to a chemist for their prescriptions.

Dr Egleston, of Wellington Road Surgery in Newport, said: “We dispense to 4,400 of our 13,500 patients.

“People are already getting very worried about how they will get their prescriptions if our dispensary closes. Disabled people, old people and parents having to get prams in and out of their cars will suffer huge inconvenience.”

Dr Egleston said the surgery’s service from consulting room to dispensary, with all details sent electronically and staff having instant access to medical records, was better for patients and staff.

“Our dispensary would close under these proposals and there would be job losses here and at similar dispensaries around the county.”

Mr Pritchard, who plans to raise the issue with Health Secretary Alan Johnson, said: “This is similar to the threat to our post offices.

“Slowly by stealth, ministers want to reduce services provided by local GPs in order to justify closing them at a later date. 

“If you are old, poor and don’t have a car, or live in a rural area with no public transport, this will have a big impact.

“The Government speaks about choice and access to local health care and yet it now wants to remove choice and regionalise services.”