Project Description
About Pharmacy First schemes promoting self care
Local Pharmacy First schemes aim to provide a service to users who might have otherwise attended their GP or A&E for the treatment of minor ailments. The scheme has been taken up by a number of CCGs across the country and has proven to be a cost-effective way to manage patients presenting to GPs with minor ailments.
In the first eight months of Bradford City CCG’s pilot of the scheme, over 900 hours of GP time was released across 27 practices – the majority of which was from patients seeking pharmacists’ advice to treat the symptoms of coughs, colds and fever.
Similarly, in the Isle of Wight, the CCG found that on average 500 people on the island now consult a pharmacist every month instead of booking a GP appointment.
References
FACTS & FIGURES
| GP TIME RELEASED (BRADFORD) | 900 hours |
| PEOPLE NOW CONSULTING A PHARMACIST INSTEAD OF THE GP (IoW) | 500/month |
Support the call for a national self care strategy
There are many ways you can support us in calling for a national self care strategy – check out some suggestions here.
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