The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7325 p705
13 November 2004

This article
Reprint   Photocopy

  Acrobat Reader

News summary

Health screening takes off in Pembrokeshire

Nine community pharmacies in Pembrokeshire are taking part in the roll out of a health-screening scheme in conjunction with GPs and diet and exercise advisers.

The scheme, first piloted in Neyland pharmacy (PJ, 8 May, p572), involves pharmacists using a hand-held computer to calculate a patient’s risk of coronary heart disease based on factors such as blood pressure and body mass index. The pharmacists offer counselling and lifestyle advice and will ask the patient to return for a follow-up visit as appropriate. Patients at high risk of coronary heart disease will be referred to their GP, or to a diet or exercise adviser.

Chris Martin, chairman of Pembrokeshire Local Health Board, told The Journal that on average two patients per week were being recruited into the scheme in each pharmacy. He said: “We are extremely worried about the increasing levels of coronary heart disease in Pembrokeshire. As a health board we think it is important to target those people who are most at risk from developing this disease, but who currently have no health problems.” He added: “This project is an excellent example of what can be achieved when we work in partnership and will dovetail nicely into the new contract.”

Funding was secured earlier this year from the Welsh Assembly Government’s “inequalities in health” fund and pharmacists are paid up to £600 per year for participating in the scheme. Both independents and multiples are taking part and the scheme is due to run for the next three years. Support with training and resources is provided by Pharmacy Alliance.