Clinical pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians are increasingly working as part of general practice teams. They are highly qualified experts in medicines and can help people in a range of ways. This includes carrying out a variety of health reviews for patients with ongoing health problems and improving patient safety, outcomes and value through a person-centred approach. Our PCN Pharmacy team look at maximising benefits while minimising risks associated with medications.
Having clinical pharmacists in GP practices means that GPs can focus their skills where they are most needed, for example on diagnosing and treating patients with more complex conditions. This helps GPs to manage the demands on their time.
Pharmacists in Primary Care support to patients
- Structured Medication Reviews to ensure the medications the patients are on are working effectively while minimising risk.
- Long Term Disease Management Reviews looking after and monitoring patients with COPD, Asthma, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Hypertension and more.
- Medication queries that patients or GP’s have regarding specific medications that have been prescribed.
- Medication Reconciliations for patients who leave hospital and need their prescriptions updated.
How do I book an appointment?
Contact your GP practice and request an appointment from the reception team
Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians work as part of the general practice team to improve value and outcomes from medicines and consult with and treat patients directly. This includes providing extra help to manage long-term conditions, advice for those on multiple medicines and better access to health checks. The role is pivotal to improving the quality of care and ensuring patient safety.
Having Clinical Pharmacists in GP practices means that GPs can focus their skills where they are most needed, for example on diagnosing and treating patients with more complex conditions. This helps GPs to manage the demands on their time.
Our Clinical Pharmacist, Jane Birch-Tomlinson and our Pharmacy Technicians Kim Brimson and Sharon Jones, both work across all 6 practices in the network.
Some of the work that they are currently undertaking:
- Structured Medication Reviews, which includes a comprehensive review of a patient’s medication, taking into consideration all aspects of their health.
- Medication Queries from either patients or GPs.
- Medication Reconciliation to ensure that medication is updated when patients are discharged from hospital.
- Liasing with Community Pharmacies as part of the CPCS (Community Pharmacy Consultation Service) so patients can be referred to their local pharmacy for minor illness or an urgent supply of a regular medicine, improving access to services and providing more convenient treatment closer to patients’ homes
- Greener Inhaler Project – as part of the NHS long-term plan to help reduce our carbon footprint.
Resources:
Please see the following link for Sick Day Rules for patients taking steroids :