NHS release new pharmacist treatment update
NHS HAMPSHIRE & IOW have announced that pharmacists are now able to see thousands of patients each month as they aim to reduce ongoing pressure on the trust, who also offered information about a campaign to highlight the different specialists working within GP practices.
Figures show that clinical pharmacists are seeing and treating more than fourteen thousand people per month across the region every month. This has been done through appointments at GP practices and community pharmacists; who are all doing excellently to help patients within their area.
This update comes as the trust launched their “It Takes a Team” public information campaign to highlight the different specialists working within GP practices. The 12-month campaign will throw a spotlight on a different specialist role each month and will feature people working within those roles in our local practices. This month they focussing on our brilliant pharmacists working in both GP practices and community pharmacies.
Clinical pharmacists who are based within GP practices help to carry out medication reviews for patients with complex long-term needs and help them to manage their conditions. They work closely with the practice team to help with prescription and medication enquiries, supporting the repeat prescription system, and dealing with acute prescription requests. Furthermore, they can also provide expert advice to ensure that patients get the best possible outcomes from their medicines through their safe and effective use and by addressing any potential harms.
Ricky Sharma, a pharmacist working at a practice in Southampton said: “I have worked as a pharmacist for almost 20 years, and I moved to general practice just over three years ago. I am also a registered independent prescriber.
“In my daily job, I focus on improving patients’ medication therapy and prescribing for cardiovascular conditions. I collaborate closely with the GPs and other healthcare professionals at the practice and this teamwork helps ensure that the medications we prescribe leads to the best health outcomes for our patients.”
In the local community more than 160,000 people have further used the Pharmacy First Service offered by community pharmacists since January 2024 which has freed up many GP appointments. Compared to other Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in the south east region, this puts NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight second highest in terms of the number of completed consultations.
Community pharmacies can now offer a number of different services including free blood pressure checks for those over 40, free contraceptives following a consultation with a pharmacist without the need of a GP appointment and are seeing many patients with minor ailments who have been referred to them from their GP and NHS 111.
Hinal Patel, Community Pharmacy Clinical Integration Lead for NHS Hampshire & Isle of Wight said: “It is great to see so many people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight using the services offered by our community pharmacists. “Our GPs are busier than ever before and are seeing record numbers of patients each month, so by utilising the advice and knowledge of our pharmacists, it allows GPs to see those patients whose symptoms and illnesses can’t be treated by a pharmacist.”
The Pharmacy First scheme which launched on 31 January 2024 offers patients treatment for seven common conditions directly from their local pharmacy, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription. The seven conditions are: sinusitis, sore throat, earache in children, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women aged 16-64.
Pharmacy First enables community pharmacists to advise on how to manage a condition and supply prescription-only medicines (without a prescription), including antibiotics and antivirals where clinically appropriate.
Pharmacists are also trained to advise as to whether you need to see a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional if it is something more serious to ensure you get the help you need. They are also trained to provide health and wellbeing advice.
Readers can access further information about the campaign and the specialist roles working in our local practices by visiting this It Takes A Team link.
PICTURED BY NHS HAMPSHIRE & IOW: Pharmacists such as Ricky Sharma, seen above, are seeing over 14,000 patients a month and helping to reduce hospital pressure across the region.
