England expands pharmacists’ scope to reduce pressure on GPs

A new program will allow pharmacies in England to prescribe for minor ailments as soon as the end of this year. P harmacists will be allowed to prescribe for seven conditions, including earache, sore throats, sinusitis, shingles and uncomplicated urinary tract infections. They will also be able to offer contraception and perform blood pressure checks. Similar programs already exist in Scotland and Wales. England's National Health Service said the change is expected to replace 15 million general practitioner appointments. It goes along with other changes meant to improve access to GPs, such as allowing some people to self-refer for services like psychotherapy and hearing tests and helping GPs better manage their phone systems. Read: Minor ailments counselling tools: Skin lightening “We warmly welcome this commitment to invest in a nationwide, pharmacy-based common conditions service, which will improve access to NHS care, free up GP appointments and help cut waiting times for primary care,” National Pharmacy Association chair, Nick Kaye, said in a press release from the NHS. “Everyone will benefit from this development—GP practices, pharmacy teams, the NHS as a whole and, above all, the general public whose day-to-day experience of healthcare will be significantly enhanced by this new service.” The changes come with an additional £645 million ($1.08 billion Canadian) for community pharmacies, and an NHS workforce plan is in the works. Read: B.C. moves closer to allowing pharmacists to prescribe for minor ailments But some are worried about this new role overwhelming pharmacists who are already stretched thin. “Extra capacity will be essential in pharmacies to cope with the extra consultations, and we are concerned about additional pressures on an already-stretched service. This must be adequately resourced and staffed to make it work effectively,” Thorrun Govind, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England, wrote in the New Statesman. According to the NHS Business Services Authority, the number of “community chemists” is the lowest it’s been since 2015. Increases in operational costs, shortages of staff and diminished financial support from the government have been blamed, according to BBC News. Pharmacies are also closing, with the number of pharmacies dropping by 160 over the past two years. Read: POLL: How are you managing minor ailment assessments in your pharmacy?

England expands pharmacists’ scope to reduce pressure on GPs

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