GP pharmacist pilot positive

PROFESSIONAL Pharmacists Australia (PPA) has highlighted a presentation at this month’s International Pharmaceutical Federation World Congress which presented findings of a pilot scheme where clinical pharmacists worked in general practices.

The University of Nottingham trial aimed to identify the impact of clinical pharmacists in GP surgeries, with 89% of pharmacists interviewed saying they were able to work autonomously and felt accepted by other members of the multidisciplinary health team.

Patients were also positively impacted, with the study reporting that working with the practice pharmacists gave them a renewed appreciation for the medicines they had been prescribed and the need to adjust their lifestyles in accordance with chronic conditions such as diabetes.

The union group said the FIP session mirrored the findings of an similar trial published in the Australian Journal of General Practice last month, “further suggesting that pharmacists are more than script monkeys”.

PPA said the outcome of the studies mean the profession can play a more active role in providing optimal healthcare for patients.

“There is no reason why there can’t be a ‘mixed business’ approach to professional services... by placing pharmacists into GPs it will broaden practice settings and employment opportunities.”

The Nottingham study concluded that clinical pharmacists “made a unique and valuable contribution to the primary care skill mix.

“Pharmacists contribute significantly to patient safety, bring medicines and prescribing expertise, support with prescribing tasks, support for patients with long term conditions including support for healthy lifestyles.

“They have improved medication knowledge in the wider clinical team leading to the prospect of overall improvements in care related to medicines,” it concluded.

To see details of the study online go to nottingham.ac.uk.