Public Health Dialogue on partnerships: pharmacies

Key points from a roundtable discussion on how to create effective partnerships with local pharmacies – including the idea that pharmacies should be able to access primary care records
A local pharmacy in a high street
Attendees discussed how pharmacies benefit from loyal patients but changes in the NHS are causing confidence to falter in pharmacists. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

Current structures

Governance, standards and communication between pharmacies and other entities are variable throughout the UK

Pharmacies benefit from loyal patients but changes in the NHS are causing confidence to falter in pharmacists

Pharmacies see their role in the community broadly from outreach programmes for the homeless to providing medical diagnostic services (e.g. blood pressure checks)

Pharmacists do not believe they are competing with GPs. Instead they view themselves as complementing the services provided by GPs and 'mopping up' services that patients are unable or unwilling to find elsewhere

The most effective pharmacies engage in a dialogue with GPs, governmental officials and the community in attempt to break down barriers

National Consistency

There is a call for national consistency that would stream line the services provided by pharmacies and improve their communication with other branches of the healthcare system

Components of the national consistency strategy include establishing national service standards, allowing pharmacies to have access to summary care records and creating technological uniformity for communication and the transfer of medical data

The future of healthcare in the UK is dictating that pharmacies adapt on both the national and local level. Forging effective partnerships with other healthcare providers and the community is the only way to handle the increasing pressure placed on the healthcare system

Local Flexibility

Barriers facing pharmacies at a local level consist of pharmacies being able to adapt to the needs of their patients and the changes in the NHS

Pharmacies face barriers in gaining accreditation, but these and other obstacles can be overcome by setting clear and inclusive goals that include the local community in planning and execution

In order to work with GPs and other community services, egos have to put aside and strong inclusive leaders need to be at the forefront of the discussion