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Letters to the Editor
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Self care
Pharmacists are ideally placed to grasp opportunities
From Mr C. Cooper, MRPharmS
The NHS has set out its priorities for the next five years. They include
improved access and improved patient experience, improved management
of long-term conditions and a greater choice for patients.
As pharmacists, whether working in community or primary care settings,
hospital, industry or academia, we all need to be aware of the direction
of the Government’s health policy and the opportunities arising
through patient choice and from a patient-centred NHS. We are seeing
a move away from a centralised NHS to more local level decision-making,
as seen already by the enhanced services tier of the new pharmacy contract
in England and the imminent arrival of practice-based commissioning of
services.
Pharmacy is ideally placed to grasp the opportunities that exist for
developing self care support in the five identified key areas:
- Staying fit and healthy
- Taking action to prevent illness
- Better use of medicines
- Managing minor ailments
- Improving care of long-term conditions
We are able to play a role in all levels of self care, whether it be
proactive, facilitated, or more supported self care. I guess many of
us, however, are still coming to terms with the enormity of the change
agenda and how we grasp the opportunities that are opening up.
I welcome the publication of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s
guide — “The self care challenge — a strategy for pharmacists
in England”. It is timely in providing the information and guidance
needed to move the agenda forward and provides useful background, suggestions
and practical help on engaging with the self care agenda both inside
and outside the NHS. I would encourage colleagues to make use of it.
We all know there are approximately 1.8 million visits to pharmacies
in Great Britain every day, hence the potential to influence the health
of the nation is enormous. New prescribing opportunities, including independent
prescribing, will increase pharmacists’ potential to further improve
patient care. Now is the time for pharmacy to get “on the front
foot” and truly deliver to its potential.
If you would like to comment on this topic please contact me at www.voteforchriscooper.blogspot.com
Chris Cooper
Council election candidate
Royal Pharmaceutical Society
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal