How can pharmacies support local communities?

As pharmacies play an ever-greater role in the support of local communities, they are helping to minimise GP workloads and reduce unnecessary appointments

The results of the Public Perceptions of Community Pharmacy Survey, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of NHS England, has found that 91% of patients who used a community pharmacy during the previous year for advice regarding medicine, a health problem, injury or guidance on health services said they received good advice. 

The NHS is now launching a new pilot scheme across the UK to help pharmacies continue to support patients which will see pharmacies continue to work to minimise unnecessary GP appointments and flag patients who need urgent assistance in an attempt to help manage GPs’ ever-rising workloads. 

Cancer support 

More than 11,000 pharmacies in England can now access training to spot signs of cancer as part of a new drive to catch tumours earlier, when they are easier to treat. The new pilot scheme is now seeing pharmacies identify people who repeatedly come in to buy cough medicine, or other medicines, to manage their symptoms, and refer them for a cancer check.

Potential signs of cancer include coughing, chest pain and breathlessness that lasts for three weeks more, as well as changes in bowel habits or bloating. During the pilot scheme people with a persistent cough, difficulty swallowing or blood in their urine, who might not otherwise have sought help, have been referred by their local pharmacy for further tests. There have already been over 1m checks and tests delivered, including those for cancer, since the rollout began.

Smoking support

The survey reported that more than 85% of occasional or former smokers say they would feel comfortable being referred by an NHS service to a community pharmacy for regular support to stop smoking. Around 3,500 pharmacies in England are currently set up to offer advice on stopping smoking, and hospitals are able to directly refer people when they leave hospital. 

Blood pressure tests

Pharmacies offer free blood pressure checks to people aged over 40; following the test, patients may be invited to take a blood pressure monitor home with them so they can measure their blood pressure independently. Estimates show that 3,700 strokes, and 2,500 heart attacks, could be prevented as a result of the test, and around 2,000 lives could be saved over a five-year period. 

Over 440,000 people were treated for a minor illness at their local pharmacies in 2022 after a referral from NHS 111 or their GP practices. With the pilot programme for pharmacies now helping to identify cancer patients, this number has the potential to grow exponentially in 2023.