29 Jun 2010
The National Pharmacy Association has responded to the NICE consultation on contraceptive services for socially disadvantaged young people.
Community pharmacies are ideally situated to meet the needs of the socially disadvantaged being located where people live and work. They see people when they are well in addition to when they are in poor health and are therefore particularly well placed to offer opportunistic health advice. In addition the density of community pharmacies is higher per head of population in spearhead PCTs (areas of health inequality). Pharmacies are usually open when GPs and other services are closed, in the evenings usually Saturdays and sometimes Sundays. ‘The latest information shows that 99% of the population – even those living in the most deprived areas – can get to a pharmacy within 20 minutes by car and 96% by walking or using public transport. The position has improved substantially for those in the 10% most deprived areas, suggesting that pharmacies have opened in or near deprived areas that previously had poorer access’. (Pharmacy in England Building on strengths – delivering the future DH April 2008). In addition community pharmacy staff usually live in the communities in which they work, understand the communities and may well speak languages other than English.
Margaret Peycke, NPA Policy Manager said: “We welcome the recognition of the value that community pharmacy has in the delivery of sexual health services. The supply of (EHC) to teenagers via Patient Group Direction has been commissioned from community pharmacy for over ten years and evaluation has shown great acceptability by service users. However it is not commissioned by all PCTs. Enhanced services are commissioned by PCTs who set the service specifications. While some PCTs only commission the supply of EHC, others may commission more comprehensive services. Services should be commissioned to meet the criteria set out in the NICE guidance. Community pharmacy services need to be embedded in integrated service networks and referral pathways to ensure local commissioners maximise their potential. In order to ensure that services are consistently available PCTs need to review training and accreditation practice to ensure that pharmacists are accredited to offer services across all the PCTs in which they work.”
“The services community pharmacies offer must be well promoted as research has shown that the majority of people are not aware of the range of services offered by community pharmacies. Whilst those visiting community pharmacies for healthcare or other reasons can be targeted opportunistically there are many more who may well avail themselves of pharmacy services if they knew of their existence.”
For a full copy of the consultation response click here.
