Community Pharmacy England has launched a set of materials – including a video animation and infographic – explaining how GP practices can refer into the Pharmacy First service.
The digital explainers have been developed to help increase understanding of the Pharmacy First service amongst GPs and practice teams. The animation describes when referrals to pharmacies can be made and the consultations that pharmacists provide, as well as learning from similar services. The infographic offers the same information in a one-page factsheet format, and there’s also a range of social media-friendly content.
These materials, which sit on a new Pharmacy First: Information for GPs webpage, are intended to offer an introduction to the service, explaining the logistics behind it and addressing any potential concerns. The resources demonstrate how Pharmacy First expands on work that pharmacists have already been doing, using their skills as experts in medicines and managing minor conditions to determine which medicines to give and when.
Community pharmacies are facing critical pressures at the moment, and it’s vital that Pharmacy First succeeds. Community Pharmacy England is working with the British Medical Association and NHS England to raise awareness of the benefits that Pharmacy First can bring to general practice teams and their patients. We hope that the new animation and infographic will help LPCs and pharmacy teams to initiate local discussions on supporting the service by implementing clear referral pathways in their areas.
Director of NHS Services, Alastair Buxton, said:
“The launch of the Pharmacy First service earlier this year marked a step-change for pharmacies, patients and the public. The service is already helping to reduce pressure on practices by freeing up GP appointments for those who really need them.
Despite the huge pressures that community pharmacies are facing, pharmacy teams have worked incredibly hard to get this new service launched and it’s vital that it succeeds. It makes perfect sense to encourage use of community pharmacies as a first port of call for healthcare advice; empowering these highly qualified healthcare professionals to do more, and giving them the resources and investment to do so, is a logical next step for primary care.
“We hope our resources are useful for LPCs and the NHS to use in engaging more practices and other stakeholders to support the implementation of the service and helping to change patient behaviour on where to go for help with minor conditions.”
GP materials on Pharmacy First
LPCs and pharmacy teams are encouraged to share the animation with local GP practices, LMCs, PCNs and ICSs to improve understanding and engagement with the GP referral pathway into the Pharmacy First service in their areas. You can show the animation at meetings directly from the Community Pharmacy England website, but if you need access to a downloadable version, please email: comms.team@cpe.org.uk
Watch the animation:
Download this folder that contains the following resources:
Clip 1: Introducing the service
Clip 2: How the service works
Clip 3: The value of the service
Screenshots
Social media tiles
Suggested tweets/posts
Visit the new Pharmacy First: Information for GPs webpage
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