Role of pharmacists to be extended
pharmafile | April 4, 2008 | News story | |Â Â Â
Pharmacists are to be given a greater role in patient treatment and promoting good health under new government plans.
The White Paper Building on Strengths, Delivering the Future sets out proposals to for pharmacists to take on some of the work currently done by GPs.
The proposed extension of their role would see many more pharmacists able to prescribe for and deal with minor ailments, as well as support patients with long-term conditions.
Health minister Ben Bradshaw said: "These proposals are not about pharmacists taking over the work of GPs – it's about complementing them, taking pressure off GPs and enabling them to spend more time with those patients who really need it."
Plans in the White Paper include allowing pharmacists to prescribe certain common medicines, to support for people with long-term conditions – such as high blood pressure or asthma, to screen for vascular disease and to play a bigger role in vaccination.
Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Keith Ridge heralded the White Paper as "a landmark document for both patients and pharmacy".
"When implemented, it will underpin better care of patients with medicines, will be a major contribution to improving the health of the population and should complete the transformation of pharmacy to a clinical profession," he said.
Pharmacists' body the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) said the White Paper's recognition of the role for pharmacy in improving access to healthcare was long overdue, but welcome.
RPSGB president Hemant Patel said: "Pharmacists have an important role to play in providing access to healthcare for the most vulnerable members of the community, for example the elderly, young mothers, those who may not have access to transport, and also in providing joined-up medicines advice across primary & secondary care."
Doctors leaders also welcomed the idea of extending pharmacists' roles, but warned that including the management of conditions like asthma or high blood pressure.
Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the BMA's GPs Committee, said: "We believe the overall management of patients with long term conditions is best done within general practice but pharmacists have a role to play in supporting patients in their use of medicines.
"In general we are in favour of the idea of pharmacists being commissioned to help improve health outcomes."
There will be a series of public consultation events on the White Paper's plans, starting on 1 May in London, ahead of a more formal consultation process on some of the key proposals later this year.
Related Links:
Click here to view the Building on Strengths, Delivering the Future White Paper.
