What do ‘Who do you think we are. What do you think we do?’ (Pharmacy Voice) ,’Call to Action’ (NHS England), and ‘Now or Never’ Royal Pharmaceutical Society have in common?
Simply, they state that Pharmacy is an underused resource for the NHS, that patients and professionals don’t understand what we do, and that the time for talking has gone and action is needed.
Tough words, but true. It is time for all pharmacists to act and not wait for someone else to lead.
If not you, then who?
Dispensing technicians, GP practices are all ready and able to take on our core business of dispensing. Nurses and allied health workers can deliver the healthy living messages and run clinics. The model of supplying prescriptions could move to large hubs .The internet businesses are growing.
WHO DO YOU THINK WE ARE? WHAT DO YOU THINK WE DO?
15th January 2014
http://www.pharmacyvoice.com/press/pharmacy-voice-launches-dispensing-health-campaign
‘Who do you think we are?’ a paper published today by Pharmacy Voice to mark the launch of a new long-term campaign, Dispensing Health, addresses the results of new YouGov research that shows a lack of public understanding of the role community pharmacy can play in helping manage the common ailments in their everyday health, and in helping people to live healthily.
New research by YouGov for Pharmacy Voice shows that less than half of the adult population – 48% – know that the pharmacist in the heart of their community can advise on minor ailments, treatment for which is estimated to cost the NHS £2 billion* every year. And less than one third – 31% – are aware they can advise on living healthily.
Call to Action
10th December 2013
http://www.england.nhs.uk/2013/12/10/community-pharmacists-cta/
Community pharmacy is recognised as a key frontline health service which provides healthcare, expert advice about medicines, as an effective alternative to many over-subscribed primary care services such as local GP practices. Pharmacists add value as an important triage not just to the GPs but to emergency services. In addition, community pharmacy plays an important and expanding role in public health and reducing health inequalities.
NHS England is aware that the current system is unsustainable and that primary care services face increasing pressures. This next part of the Call to Action will engage with community pharmacists to see how together we can transform the way it provides services. This will in turn allow community pharmacists to work with general practice to play an even stronger role at the heart of more integrated out-of-hospital services that deliver better health outcomes. This forms part of the wider ‘The NHS belongs to the people: a call to action’ that NHS England launched on 11 July 2013
Now or Never. Shaping Pharmacy for the Future
5th November 2013
http://www.rpharms.com/leading-on-nhs-reforms-for-pharmacy/models-of-care.asp
Is the report of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s independent Commission into Future Models of Care delivered through pharmacy. The commission brought together expertise from across health and social care to provide a coherent narrative for the pharmacy profession’s role in the reformed NHS in England.
Now or Never highlights that people across England should expect pharmacists to offer far more than just medicines. The report looks at how pharmacists are providing easy access to medicines, advice, review and care; better self-management of long-term conditions; better health through support to make lifestyle changes, and services which are integrated with other health professionals- so care is seamless, and it recommends ways to make these services more widespread.