This would mean all patients registered at the surgery would have to get their prescriptions dispensed at a community pharmacy, such as Boots, as was the case before doctors were allowed to set up their own dispensaries some years ago.

However, practice manager Bronya Glet at Market Rasen, said if the service was withdrawn now, it would result in the loss of some patient services at the surgery such as blood tests, which are in part funded by profits from the in-house dispensary, and might result in staff redundancies.

Under the currrent arrangements, all patients who live more than a mile from their surgery can get their medication from the surgery's dispensary.

The government has published a consultation document which outlines options for dispensing doctors.

1. Leave things as they are.
2. Let Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust decide.
3. Only those surgeries which are more than a certain distance from a chemist, as yet unspecified by the government, would be able dispense to all their patients.

Ms Glet said options 2 and 3 would mean the loss of the dispensary and some patient services, currently funded by the dispensary, at Market Rasen Surgery

She said most patients collected their medication within two minutes of leaving the doctor or nurse's room and really appreciated this fast and efficient service.

"The surgery's dispensers know their patients and can offer support and advice, having ready access to a doctor if necessary," she said.

"They also offer a repeat prescription service whereby repeat medication is ready to collect on an agreed date, saving patients from running out or forgetting to re-order it.

"Many patients who are not eligible to get their medication from the surgery's dispensary tell the doctors that they would prefer to be able to do so, as it saves them from walking or driving to a chemist, particularly if they're not feeling well or have difficulty walking."

Judith Neal at Caistor Surgery said High Street chemists would struggle to cope with the additional demand and patients would have to wait up to two days after handing in their prescriptions and getting their medication, which would particularly disadvantage patients living in rural areas like this.

"The government thinks doctors are spending too much money in their dispensing, which is why they are considering other options, but the doctors don't make a profit from it like the High Street dispensers do," she said.

"Doctors plough everything back into the practice to provide nurse practioners, high quality nurses and equipment, which wouldn't be affordable without the profit made from dispensing."

All patients who would like to save the dispensary can respond to the government's consultation document and to copy their response to their MP by Thursday November 20.

For further details about the proposals please see the consultation document online here: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_087324 or call in to the surgery to collect a form to complete.