‘Pharmacies should be at the heart of primary care’
‘CUSTODIANS OF NATION’S HEALTH’ CAN HELP TACKLE NHS BACKLOG, SAYS JAVID
THE health secretary Sajid Javid has expressed support for a “pharmacy first” model of care for minor illnesses to help clear the NHS backlog arising due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Addressing the National Pharmacy Association’s (NPA) centenary dinner in central London last Wednesday (24), Javid said he wanted to “go further” than existing services like the NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service, in order to make it “quicker and easier” for people to access primary care.
“I want to see how much further we can go,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons why we’re working up plans for a pharmacy-first model in England that will direct more patients directly to pharmacies without them having to go to see their GPs. This will help us to beat the backlog and make sure that even more people can benefit from (pharmacists’) brilliant advice and care.”
Talking about his commitment to transform healthcare in the UK, Javid said community pharmacies should be “at the very heart of primary care – not just treating people, but preventing people from becoming patients in the first place.”
Describing pharmacists as “the custodians of the nation’s health and the friendly face of healthcare in communities”, Javid said, “I want to make sure we are making the very best use of your talents, to provide care in a quicker and easier way.”
Pharmacists “played a starring role” during the pandemic by providing essential care and advice to people, the health secretary noted.
“You have played a starring role in this pandemic. You stayed open to get medicines to those who need them, you’ve helped us make lateral flow tests part of people’s everyday routine, and you’ve also put jabs in the arms of people to tackle both cold and flu.”
Outlining his vision for pharmacies and expanding their role, he said, “I want to see more pharmacies dealing with healthy people with minor illnesses, being referred to and treated in their community pharmacies.”
Javid also noted the efforts of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for their work on approving Covid-19 vaccinations.
The NPA chair, Andrew Lane, also praised the efforts of pharmacies to save lives during the pandemic, adding they are well-positioned to become “the backlogbusting centrepiece of the NHS’s recovery from Covid-19.
“We can dramatically improve access to healthcare, and free up well over 20 million GP and hospital appointments,” he said.
Lane, however, voiced concerns over funding cuts for pharmacies, which needs to be “reversed if we are to power our can-do agenda for improving patient care and tackling the NHS backlog.”
The event drew more than 100 guests, including representatives from patients groups, doctors’ leaders, senior NHS officials and various pharmacy bodies.