Pharmacy advocated to PCT members
Primary care trusts in England have been told how pharmacists can help
them meet their trust targets for making primary health care available
24-hours a day, seven days a week.
A Department
of Health circular to PCT chairmen and non-executive directors
this week puts forward, as an example of good practice, Peterborough
PCT’s pilot scheme for supplying free over-the-counter medicines
from pharmacies to patients who are entitled to free prescriptions so
that they do not visit GPs to ask for prescriptions.
The circular suggests that PCTs could start to enable the development
of a public health role by pharmacists and to allow them to refer patients
to specialist practitioners.
“Pharmacy-based schemes are particularly valuable for patients
in deprived areas who are more likely to consult a GP for minor ailments,” it
says.
An out-of-hours centre in Exeter, which includes a 24-hour pharmacy service,
is also given as an example for the delivery of unscheduled care. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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