The NHS Alliance is focused on breaking down the historic boundaries and silos that get in the way of truly progressive and innovative community based patient care. We fully support the mobilisation and integration of community pharmacy in our new vision of comprehensive integrated service delivery. We welcome the publication of the Community Pharmacy ‘Call to Action’ and will take part in the wider discussion.
We are particularly supportive of the greater use of community pharmacy in the provision of public health services and their role in managing common conditions in reducing the pressure on general practice, out of hours services and A&E. We believe that community pharmacy has a much greater role to play in delivering an effective health service fit for the future.
Mark Robinson, Pharmacy, Medicines and Medicines Optimisation Advisor to the NHS Alliance said: “There are many excellent examples of innovative community pharmacy based services around the country – our issue is both integrating these more effectively within the total community based primary care service and spreading them across the country to provide a consistency that patients can recognise and rely on. Small improvements in the use of technology, accelerating the access to Summary Care Records, direct access to GP appointments and teleconsultation can make a significant difference.
Notes
NHS Alliance is the leading independent voice for primary care, bringing together patients, frontline staff, providers and commissioners bound by the common values of the NHS. Its core purpose is to work collaboratively to improve health care within a sustainable NHS, facilitating new and better ways of delivering services through its networks and campaigns. It welcomes patient-focused organisations and individuals of all disciplines, representing them to government and its agencies to influence policy in the interests of all its members.
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