'Opportunity for pharmacists' present in GP workforce dilemma, says Rowlands Pharmacy
(PRWEB UK) 5 September 2013 -- The crisis currently underway within the GP workforce could provide an opportunity for community pharmacists to offer more services, says a new report.
Research (published in Pulse on 16th August 2013) from the pharmacists’ representative organisation, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, found that GP recruitment challenges along with the transition of workload from hospitals into primary care could present the chance for pharmacists to handle more of the general practice duties.
A spokesperson from Rowlands Pharmacy said: “We should both utilise and appreciate the full skillsets of our country’s pharmacists, as well as encourage and support them during this tough time.
“By enlisting the assistance of GPs and getting them to work more closely together, medical professionals can manage long-term conditions more effectively – one individual case at a time, such as asthma – which will then boost both GPs’ and pharmacists’ confidence to treat patients more competently.”
The report stated the following: ‘On the face of it, greater general practice provision of services may not be welcomed by community pharmacy contractors eager to provide more services to the local population; however it may in fact present an opportunity for community pharmacy.
‘This development could prompt the shift of existing workload within the general practice to community pharmacy, where there is a need to create capacity in general practices to allow the provision of new services previously provided by secondary care.
’GP recruitment challenges that are anticipated in many areas due to the retirement of a significant number of GPs over the next few years and the predicted shortage of nurses may also provide impetus for the shifting of specific tasks to community pharmacy.’
“Considering the impact this will have on the pharmaceutical industry, more than ever we need to be raising the standards to perform at a consistently high quality across the board,” added the spokesperson.
“Additionally, there needs to be a greater focus on pharmacists’ CPD learning to ensure stellar advice is readily available.”
Should the initiative go ahead, this could prove a revolutionary move for the healthcare industry – for GPs, pharmacists as well as patients. So for expert care and medical knowledge from the UK’s leading pharmacists, talk to Rowlands Online Pharmacy today – simply visit http://www.rowlandspharmacy.co.uk or alternatively, call 01928 750 668 to speak to the team.
Mariel Norton, Latitude, http://www.latitudegroup.com/, +44 1925420421, [email protected]
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