GPs: Practice pharmacists will improve patient care
GPs who took part in a C+D Twitter debate say they would consider applying for an NHS England pilot to place 250 pharmacists in GP surgeries
EXCLUSIVE
GPs have said an initiative to employ clinical pharmacists in surgeries would free up their time and provide a “better service to patients”.
During C+D's Twitter chat on NHS England’s £15 million commitment to put 250 pharmacists into general practices, contributing GPs said they would be applying to take part in the scheme. The pilot will involve one senior pharmacist and five clinical pharmacists placed in pilot sites across England for three years.
The doctors – including James Cope of Ivybridge Medical Practice in Devon, and Michael Holmes of Haxby Medical Group in Yorkshire – said working with local pharmacists had convinced them of the benefits of collaborative working.
@CandDSamuel already working on the bid, also trying to interest researchers to look evaluation, for us the model has already been proven1/2
— jgcope (@jgcope) July 16, 2015
@CandDSamuel @rcgp @NHSEng_RachelSM this is the only way to break down traditional stereotypes. Clin Phm really compliment the wider team1/2
— jgcope (@jgcope) July 16, 2015
@CandDSamuel @holmesfest @jgcope @Enkababu @rcgp we will be looking for more pharmacists in Hull and York soon and happy to get spec CVs
— Haxby Group (@HaxbyGroup) July 16, 2015
Practice pharmacists have worked well for @HaxbyGroup, better service for patients and freeing GP time #PharmsinGPs @rcgp
— Michael Holmes (@holmesfest) July 16, 2015
"A matron would be more useful"
But some GPs were less positive about the plans. East London GP Jonathon Thomlinson said his practice would employ a “matron” over a pharmacist.
@CandDSamuel @drhamedkhan @EnamHaque3 @DrDaisyBennett we looked about about 200 consultations and decided a matron would be more useful
— Jonathon Tomlinson (@mellojonny) July 16, 2015
Yorkshire GP Dr Dominic Patterson said employing a clinical pharmacist would be "costly" for practices who did not need them.
But the “great” project could work for other practices, especially those who were struggling to recruit GPs, he added.
@CandDSamuel @mellojonny scheme great for those practices thinking that way. Or who can't recruit GPs. Not for us. But pushing it locally++
— Dominic Patterson (@DocDomP) July 16, 2015
The Royal College of General Practitioners – which first called for more practice pharmacists in March alongside the RPS – said the scheme had received a warm response from members.
.@CandDSamuel Rec'd well by membership. GPs & teams under pressure so ‘hidden army’ of highly-trained pharmacists cld help #PharmsinGPs
— RCGP (@rcgp) July 16, 2015
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