THE SERVICE HAS PROVED A VERY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE FOR PATIENTS – PARTICULARLY DURING LOCKDOWNS AND THE ‘CLOSED DOOR’ GP SERVICE
The service aims to support patients with acute common clinical conditions - out with the scope of NHS Pharmacy First Scotland - to be advised and receive treatment within the pharmacy rather than be referred to another healthcare professional setting. The service utilises IP pharmacists’ competency in common clinical conditions to support shifting the balance of care into the community.
There is no doubt that the scope of this service will only increase as the Scottish Government moves closer to its plan for every community pharmacist in Scotland to be qualified as an independent prescriber by 2025.
The Davidsons Chemists chain has already adopted the Pharmacy First Plus Scotland service in more than 50 per cent of its pharmacies. Kathleen Cowle, Director for Professional Services and Development, believes that the service is a major ‘win-win’ for both patients – and pharmacists!
‘At Davidsons, we have been committed to the development of our pharmacists as Independent
Prescribers (IPs) since the opportunity arose in Tayside circa 2015. The development of the NHS Pharmacy First Plus service - and the funding that goes with it - has allowed us to increase that investment and we are now in a position where the majority of our pharmacists are either qualified IPs, currently in training, or in the process of applying.
‘It is a significant commitment on the part of the pharmacist to complete the training and we provide our pharmacists with a support network of experienced prescribers for professional support, as well as friendly advice on the practicalities of completing their coursework and portfolio.
‘We hope to eventually have a qualified IP in all of our branches as we see the benefits for patients and the pharmacy team as an absolute ‘win-win’.
‘Patients can present or be referred to us for common clinical conditions out with the scope of the NHS Pharmacy First service. This includes offering advice and treatment for a range of
conditions, such as otis externa/media, cellulitis, tonsillitis, infected eczema and insect bites. Conditions can be treated that would have previously required a visit to the GP. There is rarely a need to make an appointment. In fact, we generally see patients as soon as they present to the pharmacy, but can also take appointments or complete consultations remotely if that suits their need better. Our pharmacists - with the support of their teams - really do go out of their way to be the first port of call in communities for patients.
‘There is no doubt that these services have increased professional recognition, with a higher degree of job satisfaction for our pharmacists. Services such as these provide our pharmacists with the opportunity for professional development and give them an exciting career pathway, fully supported by both Robert Gordon and Strathclyde University and NHS Education Scotland (NES), with funding from Scottish Government.
Kathleen Cowle
It is great to see our pharmacists progress from experiential learning students, through foundation (previously pre-registration), to pharmacists and now IPs. We are really proud of how they have welcomed the opportunity for their own development, but also to meet the needs of their patients, supporting their fellow professionals and the Scottish Government with their ambitions for community pharmacy.’
First year celebrations! To mark the first year of the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service, Community Pharmacy Scotland recently launched a video celebrating its anniversary and achievements. The video can be seen at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTWAB5KBpwg
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THESE SERVICES HAVE INCREASED PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
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