Professor Peter Noyce (professor of pharmacy practice, school of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, University of Manchester) described the results of a project in Liverpool which had explored whether and to what extent it was possible to shift the management of acute self-limiting conditions from general practice to community pharmacy if the financial barrier was removed. In other words, non-prescription medicines were provided from community pharmacies under the same financial terms as from GPs.
At the start of the project, there had been 6.3 consultations per 1,000 population per week in the GP surgery and 8.4 per 1,00 in community pharmacy. After the intervention, GP consultations fell to 4.5 per 1,000 per week and community pharmacy consultations rose to 11.5 per 1,000. In total, about 40 per cent (576) of the GP consultations were transferred to the pharmacy.
This was the first research that had been done in this area and the Department of Health was interested in it. The Scottish Executive was more enthusiastic and was now rolling out studies at two sites.