THE SERVICE ADVISES AND ENCOURAGES PATIENTS TO GO TO THEIR COMMUNITY PHARMACY FIRST FOR THE TREATMENT OF MINOR AILMENTS
Currently treatment for acute, uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) for non-pregnant women aged 16-65, and also for impetigo are available through NHS Pharmacy First via PGDs, following a consultation with the pharmacist, thereby saving the patient from having to make an appointment with their GP.
Going forward, more conditions will be added to this part of the service and care, with the next two - skin infections and shingles - starting later this year.
When patients arrive in the pharmacy, they have a consultation with a trained member of the pharmacy team. The consultation starts by asking the patient for some details, including their name, date of birth and postcode, followed by details of their symptoms.
The pharmacy team member will then assess the care required. This will result in the provision of advice, including how the patient can support their condition with appropriate self-care, the provision of a treatment for the symptoms if
appropriate and/or referral to another healthcare professional if needed.
The Pharmacy First Service is widely available from community pharmacies, usually without the need for an appointment. It is available to everyone permanently registered with a GP Practice in Scotland or the Defence Medical Services, including care home residents and also people living permanently in Scotland, including the gypsy or travelling community, and asylum seekers and their dependents.
Further development is underway for the NHS Pharmacy First Plus Service, where Pharmacist Independent Prescribers deliver care for patients presenting in the community pharmacy with common clinical conditions beyond the scope of the standard NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service, which would otherwise require onward referral to another healthcare professional.
The Pharmacist Independent Prescriber will carry out a consultation with the patient and will not only offer advice including how the patient
can support their condition with appropriate self- care, but may also prescribe from a very wide range of treatments - including some medicines which are only available on prescription, therefore avoiding the need for the patient to visit their GP.
Conditions may include, but are not limited to, urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, ear nose and throat conditions, dermatological presentations, allergies and eye infections.
At present, this service is available from some community pharmacies. Community Pharmacy Scotland has work underway for the delivery of supported Community Pharmacist Independent Prescriber training, to achieve its ambitious goal of having a Pharmacist Independent Prescriber in every community pharmacy in Scotland.
Overall, the NHS Pharmacy First Service supports the right care, in the right place, with the right healthcare professional, without patients having to go to their GP practice or local Accident and Emergency Department for non-urgent treatment.
‘We are proud to have initiated this service during the pandemic,’ said Professor Harry McQuillan, CEO at Community Pharmacy Scotland. ‘Our community pharmacies have been at the front line, providing care where it is needed across Scotland. We look forward to the service developing over the coming months and years, further delivering enhanced care to the people of Scotland.’
THE NHS PHARMACY FIRST SERVICE SUPPORTS THE RIGHT CARE, IN THE RIGHT PLACE, WITH THE RIGHT HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL
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