Pharmacists Well Placed To Help BME Groups Access Primary Care Services, UK

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Also Included In: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 27 May 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain supports the publication of two reports that identify ways of improving access and responsiveness of GP services for black and minority ethnic (BME) groups. However it is important to recognise the increasing role pharmacies can offer in frontline services for BME groups across England.

The Society has written to the Department of Health to highlight what is stated in its recently published Pharmacy White Paper: "Commissioners need to create the right environment - one that encourages innovative and imaginative solutions that better meet local needs, including providing more convenient access and greater choice of provider, at a time to suit the public."

Paul Bennett, Chairman of the Society's English Pharmacy Board commented: "It is important that the best-placed healthcare professional within a local community is able to provide flexible and responsive primary care to BME groups.

"Additional GP services will have a positive effect on the health of all groups within affected communities, but an intelligent commissioning process can enhance existing services with a smaller drain on NHS funds. Diverting larger sums of money to develop GP practices simply to duplicate services would prove to be a waste of valuable resources. The Government has recognised that it is important to provide alternative sources of healthcare provision that appeal to hard-to-reach social groups - such as a less formal health setting."

Located in all communities, pharmacists are an obvious but underutilised resource in improving primary care services for BME groups. With the government's announcement to create a national support programme, the RPSGB would welcome pharmacists' involvement in implementing the report's recommendations.

Pharmacists are the most accessible of the health care professions. Pharmacies are open at convenient times without the need for an appointment and often when GP surgeries are closed. 99% of the public are within 20 minutes of a pharmacy and almost three quarters of pharmacies have private consultation areas where patients can discuss health issues in private.

Pharmacists can provide expert advice and treatment for a wide range of minor ailments and are increasingly taking on new roles such as cardiovascular checks and diabetes checks; conditions which are known to have a higher incidence in BME groups.

The two reports published on 22 May 2008 are:

1. 'No Patient Left Behind: How can we ensure world class primary care for Black & Minority Ethnic people?' Report of the group chaired by Professor Mayur Lakhani CBE

2. 'Report of the National Improvement Team for Primary Care Access and Responsiveness' led by David Colin-Thome, National Clinical Director for Primary Care Both reports are available here.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

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