GPs in England Announce Work-to-Rule - an Opportunity to Show the Strength of Community Pharmacy
GPs across England have opted to implement a work-to-rule strategy.
Under the work-to-rule approach, some GP practices will strictly adhere to contracted hours and duties. This approach presents challenges within the healthcare sector, particularly in the realm of patient support and accessibility.
Community pharmacies are vital pillars of the healthcare system and uniquely positioned to step forward and play a crucial role during this period, as they did during the Covid-19 pandemic. Pharmacies can provide essential support to patients, particularly in managing minor ailments and conditions through the Pharmacy First initiative.
"We see this as a great opportunity for community pharmacies to demonstrate their ongoing value and commitment to patient care," said Harry McQuillan, Numark Chairman. "By leveraging the Pharmacy First framework they have the opportunity to make a real difference in their communities. Of course, this is a double-edged sword, as many community pharmacies are already very busy and I ask for understanding from patients and the public, that access to our highly trained teams might take a little longer than we all would like.
“It is therefore more important than ever to ensure that the general public have an awareness of Pharmacy First to enable our community pharmacy network to fully embrace the service. Through the use of patient support materials provided by Numark, our members can effectively educate and empower patients to make informed decisions about their health.
"We urge all Numark members to actively utilise these resources to promote awareness of Pharmacy First and the vital role pharmacies play in supporting patient health. This is an opportune moment for community pharmacies to showcase their capabilities and solidify their role as trusted healthcare providers. Now would be a good time to make the Pharmacy First service in England “open access” such as that in existence elsewhere, a thing I know colleagues at Community Pharmacy England have been calling for. As well as being an important tool to managing demand, it would allow our community pharmacies to meet their activity threshold and receive vital funding.
“We will continue to provide resources and guidance to our members, enabling them to enhance patient care and maximise opportunities as part of the Pharmacy First framework.
“Mounting pressures on a struggling NHS infrastructure that result in this type of ‘work-to-rule’ emphasises that there is a necessity to have a vibrant, fully funded community pharmacy network that can support local communities now and in the future.”