The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7227 p811
7 December 2002

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Letters to the Editor

Public health

A way for pharmacists to demonstrate their usefulness

From Mr H. Patel, FRPharmS

Given the high levels of premature death, chronic disease and disability in the United Kingdom compared with many other European countries, and the major health inequalities, it is essential that a highly effective, modern public health delivery system is in place. Such a system must include community pharmacy because six million people visit a community pharmacy every day.

"Shifting the balance of power" made it crystal clear that public health will be present throughout the delivery system. Primary care trusts will have major public health responsibilities and staff to address health and inequalities in the populations they serve and to deliver preventive services. Further statements to clarify the intent of the Government indicate that public health involvement will be expected from all providers of services where "NHS and social service money flows". In fact, this statement is still too narrow as work on community development and education reforms is demonstrating.

So it comes as no surprise to receive a letter from a Government agency promoting Warm Front grants to low-income householders asking community pharmacists' help to promote the scheme. It says: "As you know, on average 80 per cent of all prescriptions are issued to non-paying recipients. Furthermore, the majority of free prescriptions are issued to clients in receipt of benefits that qualify them for a Government Warm Front grant. For eligible householders aged 60 or over the grant could be as high as £2,500, other eligible householders could receive a grant of either £700 or £ 1,500. Pharmacists are therefore ideally placed to identify householders who qualify for a grant that could have a significant impact on the health of that household."

The supporting data claim that:

• Britain has an excess winter mortality rate of 30,000 deaths per year, on average

• For every 1C drop in temperature in winter there is an associated increase of 8,000 deaths

• Cold homes are linked to mortality, especially due to bronchitis, heart attacks and strokes. Even deaths from duodenal ulcers and genitourinary disease increase. Cold increases home accidents, can worsen the pain of arthritis, can exacerbate asthma, resulting in wheeze and affects a number of groups with specialist disease conditions

To help prevent this, pharmacists are asked to put a Warm Front leaflet in bags containing exempt dispensed medicines and to hand out leaflets to target customers.

I hope that community pharmacists everywhere will put "community concern" in their thinking at this time of year and demonstrate the use and influence of an extensive community pharmacy network. Perhaps then, with the Office of Fair Trading inquiry results looming, more people outside the profession will be inclined to support the network at a time of need. It is not the so-called "modernisation" of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society or lack of adventure at the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee or high level policy at the Department of Health that will demonstrate the usefulness of community pharmacy, but pharmacists themselves by their actions.

Hemant Patel
Secretary
North-East London Local Pharmaceutical Committee

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