Prescribing Common Sense
11 December 2005
The announcement to extend prescribing rights to pharmacists is a victory for common-sense and for the power of pharmacy lobbying, according to Steve Dunn, AAH Pharmaceuticals group managing director
It's a victory for patients who will benefit from quicker, more responsive and more efficient access to medicines from Spring 2006, when pharmacist independent prescribers will be able to prescribe any licensed medicine for any medical condition with the exception of controlled drugs.
And despite the protestations and fear-mongering of GPs, who doubtless fear anything that comes remotely close to their income-earning powers, despite being the only beneficiaries of recent NHS change, it will ease their load once pharmacists start to prescribe independently in situations like controlling high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking cessation.
It is a massive victory for the status of pharmacists' – a real recognition of their status as highly trained health professionals with superb expertise in medicines.
So it is a kind of early Christmas present for our most enterprising pharmacists. Help with training, of course, would make the gift complete.
So it is to be hoped that PCTs now provide an allowance to help pharmacists complete the detailed and lengthy training required. After all if Scotland can do this, why not England and Wales. Scottish pharmacists have shown remarkable speed in this area – because of the great support they were provided.
Fully trained pharmacists will then be able to compete on equal terms with other prescribers and enjoy full patient confidence. We hear the RCN calling for maxi-nurses. I hereby launch a call for maxi-pharmacists. At AAH Pharmaceuticals that will do all we can to maxmise their role.
Maybe now we will see more pharmacists rushing to fill the out-of-hours void as I've urged before.
This goes to the heart of the high-street pharmacists real power – access during the evenings and weekends when GPs shut up shop.
We know the business is there. Patient pressure on pharmacists to supply prescription drugs soared since GPs dropped out-of-hours cover, nearly a year ago.
So let us see more pharmacists seizing this gift, shouting for PCT support and, while we are it, payment for covering the Saturday shift.
For further press information contact:
Kay Williamson at Gravitas Public Relations:
Tel: 01242 211000
Mob: 07768 926065
E-mail: kay@gravitaspr.co.uk
