Pharmacists And GPs: It's Not A Job Swap, UK

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Also Included In: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 04 Apr 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Today's announcement of an enhanced role for high street pharmacists in patient care is eminently sensible - and does not mean a job swap with GPs.

Good quality care always depends on teams of professionals with different but complementary skills. The NHS was never a doctor monopoly.

Nor should it be seen as a single, stand-alone initiative. The NHS Alliance wants to see a raft of measures to make sure that healthcare is joined-up, instead of the fragmented service that too many patients have to cope with. Their new report: In sickness and in health, due to be published 10th April, contains a series of radical proposals to improve the integration of health services.

Michael Sobanja, NHS Alliance chief executive, said:

"Pharmacists are highly trained professionals who do much more than churn out prescriptions. Providing they work closely with GPs and other clinical colleagues - and the scheme is implemented only after local discussion - the NHS Alliance believes it will provide considerable benefits to patients."

Notes

1.The NHS Alliance is a collaboration of professionals who put patients first. It is the independent body that represents NHS primary care. Values based, it is the only organisation that brings together PCTs with GP practices, clinicians with managers and Board members, and NHS primary care with its patients. The Alliance membership and its hard working national executive is fully multi-professional.

2.In sickness and in health will be published by the NHS Alliance 10th April 2008 and is intended to inform Lord Darzi's NHS review. A press conference on its recommendations - many new and radical - will be held 3.00 pm Tuesday 8th April at the Lady Violet Room, the Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, Westminster. Journalists wishing to attend should contact Pat Goodall.

NHS Alliance