The British Heart Foundation (BHF) are calling upon pharmacists to support a current campaign to help patients manage their heart medication better. The campaign is called “just like that” and is to be fronted by the face of comedian Tommy Cooper who died of a heart attack on stage 28 years ago.
The BHF have revealed that over a third of cardio-vascular patients surveyed are unaware that they can seek advice from community pharmacists about treating high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels.
At the same time the BHF survey found that more than a third of patients with elevated cholesterol fail to take their medicine (at all!) thus putting them at risk of a heart attack. Silent or vanishing symptoms was cited for a further 28% non-compliance and a further 23% of those surveyed were not compliant because of side effects.
Pharmacists will not be surprised by the levels of non-compliance, but they may be surprised by the lack of awareness amongst patients that pharmacists can help and support them.
Whilst the BHF are offering resources to pharmacists to support the campaign, it would be good also to see Pharma companies with products in this therapy area supporting community pharmacists in a structured and ongoing way with medicines management on their cardio-vascular products. Pharmacy Consulting Ltd have experience of working both with the industry and with community pharmacy on developing medicines management projects.