EU & Competition news

The Department of Health (DoH) has published a White Paper outlining bigger role for pharmacists in treating sickness and promoting good health.

The DoH white paper sets out how pharmacists will work to complement GPs in promoting health, preventing sickness and providing care that is more personal and responsive to individual needs. The measures included in the White Paper form part of the Government’s overall strategy to work to the strengths of the industry to deliver further improvements.

The role of pharmacists and other pharmacy staff is examined in terms of the future role they will play in communities, hospitals, surgeries and clinics as well as in research and education. Areas of improvements are identified and reforms are set out to better meet the needs of the public and value for money delivery.

Under the new proposals, pharmacies are to become "healthy living" centres promoting health and helping people to take better care of themselves. Pharmacists will be able to prescribe certain common medicines and be the first port of call for minor ailments, designed with the aim of saving every GP the equivalent of around one hour per day, adding up to some 57m GP consultations a year. A bigger role for pharmacies in vaccinations is also discussed in the paper.

Pharmacies are also to offer support to people with long-term conditions - such as high blood pressure or asthma - 50 per cent of whom may not take their medicines as intended - especially those starting out on a new course of treatment. Provision is also included for pharmacies to screen for vascular disease and certain sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia. In addition, the proposals allow for closer working with hospitals to provide safe and seamless care.

The paper invites views from professionals on a number of proposals relating to changes to the structure of the pharmacy system, including Government responses to the review of NHS pharmaceutical services contract arrangements carried out by Anne Galbraith. The Government says that it intends to “refocus commissioning away from dispensing services – important as these remain – to a system which rewards high quality and innovative pharmaceutical services”.

A full copy of the White Paper can be downloaded from: www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7341/7341.pdf

This material first published by the LexisNexis Butterworths. All rights reserved.