Pharmacy’s role in antimicrobial resistance and stewardshipSubscription
This article summarises the evidence supporting the role of pharmacists and pharmacy teams in antimicrobial stewardship and outlines the impact of their activities.
Community pharmacists' contribution to public health: assessing the global evidence base
In the UK, community pharmacies are more accessible to the general population than general practices. Therefore, government white papers and briefing documents from pharmacy professional bodies have advocated the expansion of the role of community pharmacists, particularly in relation to the provision of services that contribute to disease prevention and health improvement. It is unknown whether the same evidence exists globally for the expansion of these roles. This article attempts ...
Impact of an integrated pharmacy service on hospital admission costsSubscription
Northumberland was chosen as one of the national vanguard sites in early 2015, in response to the Five year forward view initiative. This article describes the evolution of the integrated pharmacy service, which now operates across organisational boundaries and in collaboration with other healthcare professionals, as well as the improvements in patient care, harm reduction and increased efficiencies achieved using a sustainable model of care.
Point-of-care C-reactive protein testing in community pharmacy to deliver appropriate interventions in respiratory tract infectionsSubscription
This pilot study sought to evaluate the potential use of point-of-care (POC) C-reactive protein (CRP) testing for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in a rural community pharmacy in North Staffordshire, UK, in conjunction with local GP practices. The study found that the use of POC CRP testing in community pharmacies has the potential to reduce the number of GP appointments caused by RTIs and, therefore, may help reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing.
Improving medicines optimisation for care home residents: Wigan Borough CCG’s approachSubscription
Although clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are not responsible for monitoring or regulating care homes, Wigan Borough’s approach demonstrates that it is possible for CCG staff to work collaboratively with care home and social care teams to improve outcomes for patients.
NHS Grampian project: treating uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection in community pharmacySubscription
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common conditions seen in female patients in general practice (GP) and account for 1–3% of all GP consultations each year in the UK. Over-the-counter (OTC) treatments for UTIs currently available in community pharmacy only attempt to relieve symptoms, and do not address the bacterial infection. The Grampian project was developed to provide treatment of uncomplicated UTIs through community pharmacies by means of a Patient Group Direction ...
Evaluating a point-of-care C-reactive protein test to support antibiotic prescribing decisions in a general practiceSubscription
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of infection and inflammation. It is high in bacterial infections but very low or close to zero in viral infections. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), England and Wales’s health technology assessment body, has issued guidance on pneumonia in adults; it recommends point-of-care (POC) CRP analysers when clinical assessment is inconclusive. If the CRP level is less than 20mg/L, no antibiotics ...
Assessing the impact of a targeted pharmacist-led anticoagulant review clinicSubscription
Local guidance, supported by the 2014 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline CG180 for atrial fibrillation (AF), recommends that patients receiving inadequate anticoagulation with a vitamin K antagonist (VKA), including time in therapeutic range (TTR) of <65%, should be reassessed. These patients were identified by the anticoagulation monitoring service (AMS) and highlighted to GPs for review. However, up to 59.3% of patients received ...
Integrating community pharmacy testing for hepatitis C with specialist careSubscription
Many patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection lie undiagnosed and a significant proportion of patients that have been identified are disengaged from specialist services. The Isle of Wight (IOW) typifies this issue, with an estimated 200 undiagnosed patients with HCV infection and a small number of known cases engaged with specialist services. Aim: To reduce the burden of undiagnosed HCV on the IOW and link new diagnoses directly ...
Pharmacy at home: service for frail older patients demonstrates medicines risk reduction and admission avoidanceSubscription
The Exeter Cluster Pharmacy (ECP) team is part of an integrated community health and social care service, providing domiciliary medicines optimisation to around 145,000 people. The service undertakes clinical medication reviews for frail older people at home, assessing their risk of medicine-related harm in order to reduce these risks and potentially prevent hospital admissions. Objective: An evaluation was completed in 2014 to assess the level of service the pharmacy ...
How useful are medicines helplines for patients discharged from hospital?Subscription
This paper suggests that patient helplines support medicines optimisation by ensuring patients have easy access to pharmacy experts to discuss concerns about their medicines and improve the quality of their pharmaceutical care.
The package user test: a method for improving medicines packaging Subscription
This paper describes a new performance-based package user test that has the potential to improve drug package design and therefore reduce drug selection errors.
