Pharmacy anticoagulation clinics relieve pressure in other settings
Community pharmacists could offer patients anticoagulation testing in the pharmacy to help take the pressure off hospital and primary care clinics, a hospital pharmacist suggested this week.
Duncan McRobbie, principal clinical pharmacist at Guy’s and St
Thomas’ NHS Hospital Trust in London, came up with the idea after
a UK survey of anticoagulation clinics revealed the service was at “breaking
point” because of increased patient demand.
Mr McRobbie, who runs a clinic in a GP practice for patients with chronic
heart disease, said: “Community pharmacists could provide the service
as an advanced service under the new contract. They would need to ensure
that they have robust clinical governance in place for the machine that
carries out the test and for patient referral.”
Pharmacists would also have to feel comfortable taking blood from patients,
he said.
His suggestion follows the results of a survey this week of anticoagulation
clinics carried out by the charities Help the Aged and Anticoagulation
Europe, which provides advice to patients who are on oral anticoagulation
therapy. The charities surveyed 82 clinics — most in secondary
care — which represent 27 per cent of all NHS clinics in the UK.
The results revealed that 73 per cent of clinics had seen patient demand
increase by 25 per cent over the past two years.
Seventeen per cent of the clinics said they might have to limit taking
on new referrals in order to meet current demand while 43 per cent predicted
waiting lists are likely to soar.
Consultant haematologist at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle Patrick
Kesteven, who is also medical adviser for Anticoagulation Europe, said: “This
survey demonstrates that while clinics are working hard to manage the
increased demand, the system is now stretched to breaking point.”
He added: “Waiting lists for new patients are now not uncommon
in some clinics and waiting times of up to three hours are not unusual.” |
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