Community pharmacists in Walsall have contributed to improving prescribing, according to a report.
The impact of five community pharmacists working with general medical practitioners from 1997 to 1998 was assessed using prescribing data, audit of repeat prescribing systems and analysis of interventions with patients and doctors.
According to a health authority statement, prescribing analysis showed demonstrable improvements in the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which had been a major target of the work. Many recommended changes had been accepted by both doctors and patients.
Walsall health authority's pharmaceutical adviser (Mr Nigel Barnes) said: "By the end of the year, the GPs not only accepted the pharmacists' input, they wanted it to continue and other GPs were eager to join the scheme."