UK consultation to grow

BRITISH pharmacists could see their scope expand to cover a broader range of symptoms and minor illnesses, if the NHS England’s community pharmacist consultation service (CPCS) proves successful.

As it currently stands, the CPCS covers patient referrals from NHS 111 to community pharmacy only, with ongoing trials taking place between community pharmacy and GP practices, as well as NHS 111 online for urgent medicine supply.

However, it is possible that “the number of symptoms and potential minor illness categories [covered by the service]” will expand, depending on the success of the program - a development that is likely to spark a “debate about clinical safety”.

The announcement was delivered by the organisation’s Director of Primary Care Strategy, Ed Waller, at the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies conference on 23 Jan.

Waller said that, to date, 93% of community pharmacies had signed up to offer the CPCS, with 132,922 referrals received from NHS 111 since its launch in Oct 2019, of which 44% (58,768) had been for minor illnesses.

Andre Yeung, a community pharmacist based in Newcastle in northeast England, reacted positively to the idea of the potential CPCS expansion, however identified “standardised access to equipment and medicines in the pharmacy” as a potential barrier.

Waller also revealed that NHS England was working with the NHS Integrated Urgent Care team to develop a referral pathway for urgent medicine supplies between 999 and community pharmacy, but divulged no further details.

According to Waller, the next steps in the advancement of the CPCS are the trialling of referrals from Emergency Departments as well as NHS 111 online for minor illnesses.