The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7321 p573
16 October 2004

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Pharmacists’ input into care pathways

The 2004 British Pharmaceutical Conference and Exhibition “Medicines: from cell to society” took place at Manchester International Convention Centre from 27–29 September

BPC 2004 summary

Clive Jackson, chief executive of the National Prescribing Centre, described a managed care pathway. The pathway begins with self-management — with people taking personal responsibility for their own health. Pharmacists have an input here in screening and health promotion services, self-care advice and purchase of over-the-counter products. Next, patients enter a managed care service, he said. This could involve a minor ailments scheme, diagnostic services, outreach services and monitoring and follow-up services. During the next phase, secondary care, pharmacists need to optimise the service that patients receive, minimise their length of stay and maximise the opportunities around discharge services. Once patients have moved out of secondary care, they then go to intermediate care, which could involve a community hospital or support in the patient’s home environment. Ultimately, the patient will return to self-management.

We have to consider what we currently do and how it will fit into chronic disease management, said Mr Jackson. “We also need to consider carefully what we could do if we take the blinkers off and think slightly more widely,” he added.