Successful pharmacy weight management pilot extended
A community pharmacy-based weight management service in Ayrshire is being extended following a successful pilot.
From this week, the service, which is divided into three phases each
lasting three months, was opened up to all 22 pharmacies in North Ayrshire.
Phase 1 involves weekly monitoring of lifestyle, diet and behavioural
changes. Phase 2 involves weekly supply of orlistat via a patient group
direction, and phase 3 an extension of orlistat or lifestyle advice with
monthly monitoring.
The service was developed as an extension to health “MOTs” offered
by pharmacies in North Ayrshire (PJ, 6 January, p25).
Elaine Ward, programme pharmacist, Healthy North Ayrshire, explained: “Pharmacists
can use vouchers to refer people to Weight Watchers. However, we found
that only half of the people eligible for Weight Watchers said they would
go, and only half of those actually went. So the pharmacy service is
designed to complement the Weight Watchers option.”
Pharmacists are paid £10 per patient per month for phases 1 and
2, with an additional £10 for the first month of providing orlistat.
Payment for the final phase is £5 per patient per month.
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