Changes to the prescribing of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs suggested by community pharmacists saved money, improved prescribing and were acceptable to both prescribers and patients, according to a project report from Keele university.
The number of prescriptions for NSAIDs given to elderly patients decreased and a cost saving of at least £13,000 was made after five community pharmacists provided prescribing advice to general medical practitioners in Walsall over a six-month period, say the authors of the report.
Patients and doctors were interviewed to assess their opinion of the contribution made by the pharmacists and both groups said that they were happy with the changes made.
One GP is quoted as saying: "We are all too busy . . . so having somebody else who is an expert in this field to do it does help."
In the study, five community pharmacists each worked for one day a week in at least one GP surgery and changes to prescribing were monitored using PACT data. The pharmacists documented all their interventions, which allowed further analysis to be made of recommendations for change and whether they had been implemented. The report recommends that the practice pharmacist scheme should be extended to include other practices in Walsall, with continued involvement of the local health authority.
"Seizing the opportunities: report of the Walsall practice pharmacist project", Department of Medicines Management, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, price £10.