Community Pharmacist Consultation Service

What is the service?

From April 2021, when you call the practice, you will be asked about your symptoms. If they indicate that you can best be helped by a pharmacist, you will be offered a same day consultation with a community pharmacist at Village Pharmacy.

Community pharmacists have already successfully seen thousands of patients for a consultation for a minor illness, following a call to NHS 111. This new way of arranging consultations with the pharmacist by a GP practice, has been successfully piloted around the county.

Once the pilot is complete the service will be opened to all pharmacies who participate in the service.

The aim of the service is to improve access to primary care by referring patients requiring advice and treatment for certain minor illness conditions, from a GP practice to a community pharmacist.

Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals and experts in medicines. They can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for all sorts of minor illnesses, and a same day consultation can be arranged quickly and at a time to suit you.

This in turns frees up GP appointments for those people with more complex symptoms who really need to see a GP.

Community pharmacist’s alert GP practices when they direct a patient back to the practice or on to other care settings, or where they believe there are other underlying issues that the practice should be aware of.

This referral can also be done directly with the pharmacy, if you feel you have a minor illness you can contact the pharmacy directly, this will reduce your waiting time on the phones and the time it takes for the referral to be sent to the pharmacy.

FAQs

What happens when I see the community pharmacist?

We will share your personal details with the pharmacist and details of your minor illness and the pharmacist will contact you to arrange your consultation on the same day, or at a time that suits you.

You may be seen in person in a private consulting room, if the pharmacist thinks it appropriate, or your consultation may be carried out over the phone or via video. You will be asked about your medical history and symptoms and current medication, in the same way the GP would ask you about them.

Usually, the pharmacist will provide you with advice and can sell you an over the counter product where needed, if you choose. They will also send details of your consultation back to the surgery for our records.

If the pharmacist feels you need to be seen by a GP urgently, they will call us to ensure you are seen, or they will advise you to contact the hospital Emergency Department if deemed necessary. You may also be referred back to us to arrange a non-urgent appointment or follow up.

What if I get free prescriptions from my GP?

Your pharmacist will provide you with advice on how to treat your symptoms, which may include a medicine or product. Medicines that can be purchased in a pharmacy to treat minor illnesses are usually inexpensive and would not normally be prescribed by your GP anyway. You are free to choose if you wish to make a purchase or not.

What happens if I don’t want to see the pharmacist?

We want to ensure that you are offered an appointment with the most appropriate qualified health care professional based on your symptoms. If you have minor illness symptoms that can be treated the same day through a consultation with a qualified community pharmacist, but do not want to accept this referral, you will be offered a routine appointment with your GP at a future date.

What if the patient is my child?

Children aged over one year are eligible to use this service and can be seen by the pharmacist. Children who are able to make their own decision about their health may be seen unaccompanied.

Why is this a good thing for patients?

Community pharmacies are local, open longer hours than the GP practice and can offer you the same consultation outcome at a time that is more convenient for you. If the pharmacist thinks you need to see the GP, they can help arrange an urgent appointment for you.

Patients who have already used the service liked the convenience of having a consultation on the same day, or a day that suited them, at a pharmacy of their choice. 78% of people who had a consultation with a community pharmacist were successfully helped.

What conditions are SUITABLE for referral to pharmacists?

  • Bites/stings – minor redness & swelling
  • Colds – coughs, sore throat, flu-like symptoms
  • Congestion – blocked or runny nose, excess mucus
  • Ear – earache, ear wax, blocked ear, hearing problems
  • Eye – conjunctivitis, dry/sore/red, watery/runny eyes
  • Gastric/Bowel – constipation, diarrhoea, heartburn/indigestion, haemorrhoids, vomiting/nausea
  • General – hay fever, sleep difficulties, tiredness
  • Gynae/Thrush – Cystitis, vaginal itch/soreness/discharge
  • Pain – sprains and strains, migraine/headache
  • Skin – Acne, dermatitis, oral thrush, warts/verrucae, ringworm/threadworm
  • Mouth/throat – cold sore, hoarseness, mouth ulcers, sore throat

This list is not exhaustive but shows a range of conditions suitable for the pharmacy service.

IF YOU ARE ASKED TO ATTEND VILLAGE SURGERY PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU ARE WEARING A FACE MASK.