“Keep well” pilot aims to find ways of preventing ill health starting in Lanarkshire
Pharmacists in Scotland are to have a role in an initiative aimed at finding ways of preventing ill health in people who do not traditionally use health services.
A “Keep well” pilot will tackle heart disease in North Lanarkshire.
It will start by offering health checks to people aged between 45 and
64 years identified from GP lists. The checks will include blood pressure,
blood glucose and cholesterol measurement, and tackle lifestyle issues
like smoking, diet, alcohol consumption and weight. Although initially
GP-led, the pilot will evolve to include other health care providers.
George Lindsay, chief pharmacist, primary care, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “[Pharmacists]
can encourage people to keep health check appointments and get the message
across to people who are difficult to reach through GP lists.” And
there is potential for pharmacists to play other roles. This week, it
was decided that a community pharmacist should sit on the locality clinical
forums in Airdrie, Coatbridge and Wishaw, the three locations involved
in the pilot. “This will be a good way for pharmacy to keep in
touch and work out how pharmacists can get involved,” he added.
The Lanarkshire “Keep well” pilot is one of five funded by
the Scottish Executive to develop preventive health care. The others —in
Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh — are expected to launch within the
next few months. |
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