Society launches new self care strategy document
A new strategy document and resource pack on self care was launched by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society on 7 March at a meeting of the Parliamentary All-Party Pharmacy Group.
The strategy document is designed to complement the Department of Health’s
own guidance on self care, “Supporting
people with long term conditions to self-care”, which was published on 24 February (PJ, 4 March,
p253).
The Society’s document, “The self care challenge: a strategy
for pharmacists in England”, was launched on behalf of the Society
by David Colin-Thomé, national clinical director for primary care
at the Department of Health, as part of his address to the All-Party
Pharmacy Group. Dr Colin-Thomé has supported the document’s
production and has provided a foreword for it.
The new document highlights four key messages to maximise the potential
of pharmacy in self care (see panel). It goes on to provide information
on practical steps that pharmacists can take to help drive self care.
Key messages for self care
The key messages highlighted in “The self care challenge: a
strategy for pharmacists in England” are as follows:
· Opportunities exist for developing self care support in the
five key areas: staying fit and healthy; taking action to prevent
illness; achieving better use of medicines; managing minor ailments;
and improving care of long-term conditions
· Pharmacists need to consider ways to engage with all health and
care professionals in order to give consistent messages to patients
and the public about self care
· Primary care trusts need to maximise the opportunities to promote
self care, patient choice and how pharmacy can support patients
to self care
· Pharmacists need to consider ways to engage with commissioners |
The document is accompanied by an annexe setting out useful resources
relating to self care. These include a paper aimed at primary care commissioners, “Making
the most of pharmacy: six steps to an integrated approach to self care
with pharmacy”. The Society hopes that pharmacists and commissioners
will use the resources to maximise the potential of pharmacists in self
care.
Dr Colin-Thomé said: “Self care is a fundamental part of
health care policy in which pharmacy has an important role to play. Pharmacists
from all sectors already support people in looking after their health
and now is the time for the profession to forge stronger links with commissioners,
health and care professionals, patients and the public to demonstrate
the significant contribution that pharmacy can make to better self care.”
The Society’s guidance was developed by a working group, chaired
by Clive Jackson, chief executive, National Prescribing Centre, and co-ordinated
by the Society’s lead for self care, Sadia Khan.
Ms Khan said: “The Society is committed to continuing to work with
the DoH, NHS employers and other pharmacy organisations to highlight
the contribution pharmacists can make in the delivery of self care support
services. Proactive self care is an important part of full public engagement.
In reality, most care happens outside NHS care settings. And it is through
more proactive self care that people will make the biggest difference
to their long-term health prospects. Pharmacy lies at the interface between
NHS care and individual self care. which is why it is so important to
make best use of the pharmacy resource.”
The Society’s President, Hemant Patel, said: “The Royal Pharmaceutical
Society of Great Britain has been working hard to ensure that the role
of the pharmacist within self care is fully recognised. ‘The self
care challenge: a strategy for pharmacists in England’ supports
this message and seeks to create a call for action to engage pharmacists
in increasing self care support. Similar documents will also be published
for Scotland and Wales to reflect the differences in health policies
within the home countries.”
“The self care challenge: a strategy for England” can be downloaded
from the practice
guidance page of the Society’s website. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal