Creating a Partnership for Improved Primary Care
04 February 2008
If proposals by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey to change the structure of healthcare provision in Northern Ireland are to succeed, the potential contribution which pharmacy could make needs to be recognised, argues Mark James, group managing director for AAH.
In February, the Minister set out his plans to restructure how health and social care in Northern Ireland is planned, managed and delivered. In setting out his vision Michael McGimpsey referred to a health service which tackles inequalities, is rooted in local communities and actively engages primary care professionals. If such principles are applied in practice then I see a more prominent role for community pharmacy as critical if the Minister’s vision is to be realised.
Community pharmacy in Northern Ireland already has an established and well earned reputation in local communities. More than 120,000 people visit Northern Ireland’s 500-plus pharmacies each day and patient satisfaction with services and accessibility is high. Pharmacists are respected and trusted by patients, many of whom will visit a pharmacy more often than they see their GP.
Community pharmacy currently acts as an invaluable ‘gateway’ offering services, advice, information and signposting as well as, of course, dispensing. Yet there remains considerable potential for pharmacies to undertake more patient focused services.
For me a clear sign that the Minister’s proposed approach to local commissioning is working well will be if new patient services are commissioned from pharmacies. I cannot see how the Minister’s aims can be achieved without community pharmacy playing a more prominent role than is currently the case.
However, just as local commissioning offers an opportunity for pharmacy it represents a challenge. Pharmacists will need to build new relationships with Local Commissioning Groups and put to them persuasive proposals demonstrating what more pharmacy can achieve in delivering primary healthcare. That will not be an easy task, but it is an essential one if pharmacy is to benefit fully from the funding streams and new opportunities which will be available.
Pharmacy has a strong and positive story to tell. Pharmacies are located in areas of health inequality and social deprivation, many of which are underserved by other parts of the health service. The accessibility and reach of community pharmacy is one of its greatest assets and a considerable selling point to those who want to address the issues of equal access to healthcare. That, of course, is one of the aims which the Minister set out.
The Minister’s statement is also very timely given that negotiations concerning the new pharmacy contract are on-going. I hope that when the details of the new contract are announced we will see a recognition of the additional contribution which community pharmacy could and should make.
Of course, Northern Ireland is fortunate in that it can look at the experiences of Scotland and England and see what has worked well and what has been less successful. The eventual model will undoubtedly be unique to Northern Ireland and, who knows, might become the example that others seek to emulate.
All of this is important to AAH for two reasons. Firstly, we can only succeed if our customers are successful. Therefore, we take seriously our role in promoting new business, funding and professional opportunities for pharmacy. We use our political and government contacts to constantly reinforce the case for pharmacy. That is why we are keen to see the Minister’s health reforms develop in a way which will benefit pharmacy and, ultimately of course, patients.
Secondly, our customers need the best support and advice available to help them deliver patient services. As a result, we now offer a full range of professional services such as diabetes testing and a Men’s Health Service. The investment and commitment of AAH to identifying and meeting the needs of its customers in Northern Ireland should not be underestimated.
In conclusion, if Ministers and officials at the DHSSPS want to see a more patient focused, responsive and accessible health service then the role which community pharmacy could play should be top of their list. For our part, AAH will ensure it provides the support which its customers need as new services are commissioned and new professional opportunities arise.
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Dean Enon
Gravitas Public Relations, 7 Imperial Square, Cheltenham, GLOS GL50 1QB
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