Right Person, Right Place, Right Time – Pharmacist Prescribing In Community Pharmacy In Great Britain

• By: WILSON, Laura (Royal Pharmaceutical Society, United Kingdom)
• Co-author(s): Mrs Laura Wilson (Royal Pharmaceutical Society, London, United Kingdom)
  
• Abstract:

  Title: Right person, right place, right time – Pharmacist prescribing in community pharmacy in Great Britain
  Authors: Laura Wilson
  Affiliation: Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Great Britain
  
  Background information
  The NHS in Great Britain is under immense pressure. As demand increases, we are looking at new ways for patients to access the care and treatment they need. With the changing role of pharmacists and their qualification as prescribers, fully utilising these skills is one way to change the way people access healthcare.
  Services were developed in all three countries which allow pharmacists to consult with, assess, diagnose and treat, where appropriate, common clinical conditions they might be presented with in their pharmacy. Pharmacists were encouraged to undertake additional clinical examination skills and to ensure they were confident and competent to offer the service. Support was provided to help get pharmacists to the level needed in a variety of ways.
  
  Purpose
  People often attend their community pharmacy for support, advice and treatment. Until recently, pharmacists were limited to what they could supply to patients to treat their presenting complaint. This often led to referral to the GP or out of hours services, moving the problem down the line and increasing pressure on these stretched services.
  
  Method
  We now have 3 services, one each in England, Scotland and Wales.
  Scotland launched NHS Pharmacy First in July 2020. Wales rolled out a new national clinical service in April 2022 to ensure consistent service provision. Pharmacy First in England started on 31st January 2024. These new services allow access to medicines which are prescription only and typically were only prescribed by GP’s without an appointment at a time and place that suit the patient.
  
  Results
  In Wales in 2022-23, we reached more than 190,000 patients who accessed almost 240,000 consultations as part of the Common Ailments service from community pharmacies. This is an increase of almost 74% from 2021-2022.
  In Scotland in 2021-2022, almost a quarter of the population (23%) accessed Pharmacy First Scotland at least once. This covers all levels of deprivation but 45% of these patients lived in the two most deprived quintiles. The data on outcomes shows that 86% received a medicine, 10% were given advice only and 4% were referred to another healthcare professional.
  Pharmacy First in England launched on 31st January 2024 with more than 93% of contractors in England signing up to deliver the service. In the first three days around 3000 consultations took place.
  
  Conclusion
  With all pharmacists in Great Britain qualifying as prescribers in 2026, these services will serve to allow greater access to patients to a prescribing healthcare professional at a time and place that suit them. The data shows that patients are making increasing use of these services and it is reaching those who need it most. Pharmacists in the community are highly skilled, accessible and competent to deliver enhanced prescribing services to change the way people access healthcare and improve outcomes.