People needing medical care across the Midlands are now able to get professional clinical advice and treatment at a place more convenient for them as part of an extended service agreement between community pharmacists and NHS England in the Midlands. Through the Community Pharmacy Extended Care Service, people can visit a local pharmacy instead of their GP for advice and treatment for a range of minor illnesses. Pharmacists can supply medicines to treat the conditions or recommend over the counter medicines.

Imran Mohammed, Director and Superintendent Pharmacist and the team at Orchard Pharmacy in Mansfield recently celebrated their 10-year anniversary. He shares how working together with their local GP practice has resulted in the service being a success with lots of positive feedback from patients.

“We have been delivering the Extended Care Services, providing advice and treatment for conditions such as UTIs in females, Acute Bacterial Conjunctivitis and infected insect bites for over two years now. I’m very delighted to say that on average we are conducting over 120 consultations each month, that’s 120 patients who are being seen quicker, and at a location convenient to them.

Before starting the service at Orchard Pharmacy, myself and Rebecca Tate, the Practice Manager at the Orchard Medical Practice next to the pharmacy, sat down and devised a plan as to how the signposting was going to work. We strategically selected the questions the surgery staff would ask the patients allowing them access to the Extended Care Service, specifically highlighting the key red flag symptoms. The Orchard Medical Practice is currently our main source of referrals and we share a great working relationship with them. Patients are getting seen on the same day and GP appointments are being used to focus on the more complex clinical cases. I strongly believe that response, reputation and trust are the fundamental foundations to be able to deliver the Extended Care Service from a Community Pharmacy.

This collaborative approach works really well for us. We have a very strong pharmacy dispensing and checking team who can competently run the dispensary, allowing myself and my colleague pharmacists to break away from the checking of prescriptions and carry out these patient consultations.  We have had lots of positive feedback from patients as they can have same day access and can be seen by a pharmacist straight away. It’s great to help our patients get the help they need sooner.”