Opinion: Pharmacies should be online for better patient access
As dispensing volumes grow and the demand for patient consultations increases, Harry McQuillan explores whether technology offers a solution so that both pharmacists and patients are happy…
Technology and automation can help pharmacists meet the increasing demand of Pharmacy First consultations and other minor ailments patient services.
Recent years have witnessed an unprecedented growth in pharmacy based technological solutions, from robots to spoke and hub to DSPs - but there is no one-size-fits-all.
Positioning local pharmacies as central hubs for everyday healthcare support services and professional advice through Pharmacy First is pivotal in meeting the changing pressures and demands that pharmacies and the NHS are facing.
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The expansion of pharmacy services through technology only goes to show the necessity of making in-person care available. Community pharmacy plays a valuable role in preventative healthcare, which not only protects patients but can help offset outbreaks within the wider community.
Technology and investment can help deliver healthcare effectively, but that offering is only complete within a pharmacy which can be visited as and when it’s needed.
While being able to contact a pharmacist from a smartphone may increase access to health services, and may be preferred by many patients, it also creates a barrier for patients without devices, like elderly patients or other patients from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Healthcare services should be available to everyone.
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What we need to see is movement to a position where a combination of human and digital connection points offer an empathetic service for patients, and support pharmacists to expand their role as a pillar of community healthcare.
Change is inevitable, but leveraging change is what will help community pharmacy evolve in 2024 through the delivery of Pharmacy First and the continued safe provision of medicines. We need to place innovation at the heart of our pharmacies and our pharmacies at the heart of our communities.
Harry McQuillan is chairman of Numark and a former CEO of Community Pharmacy.
