A report published today (16 July) by Thiscovery and the National Pharmacy Association shows that the majority of community pharmacists strongly support the expansion of independent prescribing in community pharmacies – but face a number of structural obstacles, especially inadequate NHS funding and only limited access to patient records.
Patients told researchers that they wanted good information sharing between pharmacies and GPs – meaning their full history would be available to the prescribing pharmacist, that any prescription would be recorded and that their GP would be aware.
The NPA commissioned in-depth analysis of attitudes to prescribing, by pharmacists, patients and other health care professionals, as part of a project mapping the opportunities for pharmacy prescribers to better serve patients, take pressure off the wider NHS and provide medium and long term opportunities to develop pharmacy businesses.
The NPA believes that this project will be highly significant in terms of informing the development of community pharmacy patient care and prescribing practice in the NHS.
Key findings of three surveys – each commissioned by the NPA and carried out by health research specialists Thiscovery – include:
84% of pharmacists participating in the research felt expanding prescribing would improve access to timely treatment
70% of patients who had not already had a pharmacist prescription said they would be happy to have a pharmacist prescribe medication for them
The majority of commissioners and non-pharmacist professionals (64%) felt pharmacy prescribing would improve access
Lack of funding and limited access to IT services and patient records remain a central barrier to expansion.
Senior figures from the NHS, pharmacy leaders, patient representatives and specialist Health policy researchers from across the UK gathered in London this week (15 July) to validate findings from the research and start mapping out practical recommendations for Government and NHS commissioners.
They were asked how the findings compare with their own experience and what is missing in the data. They also considered what are the priority actions needed to support safe and sustainable pharmacist prescribing.
The NPA is leading work to create a practical framework and roadmap for pharmacist independent prescribing to support the NHS 10 year plan, create business opportunities and offer practical support and advice to the pharmacy community.
Sukhi Basra, NPA Vice Chair, who chaired this week’s roundtable, said:
“Prescribing has transformed the way I am able to serve my patients and this research shows it has the potential to have a huge positive impact on patients and the NHS across the country – bringing care out of hospital and into the community as more and more pharmacists qualify as prescribers.
“The NPA has strongly argued that these opportunities require proper funding and support across the healthcare establishment, but the rewards for patients, pharmacies and the health system are potentially dramatic.
“We’re conducting this important research and bringing colleagues together across the health system to ensure pharmacies can take advantage of the accelerating number of prescribers in the system, which represents great patient care, great value for the NHS and an amazing opportunity for our profession.”
Nearly 500 participants took part in the surveys, carried out between April and June.
The NPA’s research partners for this project are Q community and Thiscovery, who gather knowledge and experience from people who use, deliver and influence services to generate insights to improve outcomes in health and care.
The project is supported by a generous gift from the NPA Health Education Foundation.
