The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7241 p387
22 March 2003

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Research in Aberdeen reveals need for pharmacy in deprived area

A pharmacy has been set up in a deprived area of Aberdeen following research to assess which services were required by residents and other health professionals.

The research, shortly to be published in the International Journal of Pharmacy Practice (2003;11:47) describes how a needs assessment led to the pharmacy service in an outreach health service in Middlefield, Aberdeen.

Middlefield has one of the highest deprivation levels in the city with high levels of unemployment, heart and respiratory disease and mental health problems. Although less than 40 per cent of households have a car, the area, with a population of around 3,500, was served neither by a general practice nor a pharmacy.

Grampian Health Board set up an outreach service in the area staffed by two nurses, a health visitor and a health education worker. It is known as the "Healthy Hoose" and provides a drop in triage service also offering advice such as healthy eating on a low budget. It was suggested that pharmaceutical services could be provided there. Concerns as to whether these would be welcomed by residents or other health professionals were addressed by a pharmaceutical needs assessment carried out by pharmacists Terry Porteous and Christine Bond from the department of general practice and primary care at Aberdeen University.

The residents were frequent users of over-the-counter medicines and it was believed that a pharmacy service with access to advice would be convenient. Almost half the residents surveyed wanted a high-street-type pharmacy but the health professionals were more in favour of a part-time service.

In terms of the services wanted, both groups ranked advice on minor illness and OTC medicines and the sale of OTC medicines high on their lists. Residents also wanted first aid products and a collection service for prescribed items. Professionals favoured advice on prescribed medicines and sales of baby products in their top five.

The idea of drug misuse services was accompanied by concerns over security.

On the basis of these findings, a pharmacy service was started, with part-time cover provided in the mornings by Kathleen McFarlane, funded by Grampian Primary Care Trust. She told The Journal that she stocked a basic supply of OTC items such as paracetamol, antihistamines and cough mixtures. "Nothing too expensive." She has been inundated with requests for head lice treatments that she can provide on a direct supply basis. Ms McFarlane has also started direct supply of nicotine replacement therapy, seeing five patients in the first six days of the scheme.

She adds that the non-dispensing pharmacy does not sell baby care items because many baby creams can be prescribed by the on-site nurse and formula milk is often provided free through baby clinics.

The strong reaction against drug misuse services has, so far, precluded such schemes but Ms McFarlane thinks that attitudes may be changing with a favourable response now indicated for a needle exchange scheme.

IJPP article, p410