Diagnosis as well as dispensing at Bellpharm Pharmacy

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Clinical knowledge: Ian Bell of Bellpharm

The local pharmacy has always been a place to pick up your prescription or by over-the-counter medicine common ailments. But the role of pharmacists is changing dramatically. The image of the local pharmacist dispensing prescriptions is an outdated one. The men and women in white coats are highly trained in medicine and know how to use it. Yet until recently their official role has been somewhat restricted. Under dramatic changes sweeping pharmacies across the country patients can expect an ever expanding range of services. You will soon be able to walk into your local pharmacy and find a range of services and stop smoking and obesity clinics to diabetes screening and blood pressure monitoring.

“In the past the pharmacists clinical knowledge has been under-used,” said Ian Bell of Middlesbrough's Bellpharm.

“People thought we just put pills in a box and put labels on them, but our training is the background behind the medicine and understanding how they work.”

Picking up repeat prescriptions without seeing a doctor and being treated for minor illnesses are among the new services which will be offered. It is hoped the contract which began in April will cut waiting times at GP surgeries as pharmacists increasingly become the first port of call for health advice.

“Everyone is under pressure the volume of prescriptions is going up by 3 to 6% per year. The production of these prescriptions means GPs need to do more work. Pharmacies have to do more work to dispense them. The new contract is trying to introduce ways of tackling the burden with more effective control for the patient.”

The changes have been greeted with mixed reaction among pharmacists. “It's very exciting but there's also a little apprehension as its all-new territory.”

But the patient looks set to benefit from the new scheme. “The new system will give GPs more time with patients who are in greater need.”

Bellpharm, the Lealholm Crescent pharmacy off Ormesby Road already provides Teessiders with a wide range of services. They include blood pressure monitoring, stop smoking services and diabetes screening.

“Someone might come in and tell me they feel drained, they're tired and can't stop drinking.” A free on the spot test can be carried out there and then. “They are not diagnostic in themselves but what we can do is use them as an indicator. Then the patient can go to their GP and use it as a starting point.”

The results of the tests are recorded as they can be used as hard evidence. “Especially if 10% of customers in a certain area are diabetic. Then we could screen more patients for the primary health care trust and GP.”

The only test to that isn't free is cholesterol which costs £5.

Under the new contract pharmacists must carry on providing essential services including dispensing medicine, signposting people and health promotion.

They can choose to offer advanced services which include medical use reviews which enables pharmacists to take a holistic view towards patients medicines, and looking to other areas like lifestyle improvement.

They can also make referrals to the GP or suggest where a patient might have their medication changed.

And patients will be able to pick up repeat prescriptions straight from the pharmacy without a GP visit until they are due for review. Enhanced services pharmacies may choose to provide with primary care trust support include minor ailments services, smoking cessation, needle and syringe exchange and homecare support. “It allows patients access to experts which has never been utilised before,” explains Ian. From "Health" newspaper supplement in Teesside's Evening Gazette, Aug 8, 2005

Just checking: Allan Dixon, 70, has his cholesterol checked by diagnostic specialist Maxine Purdie at Bellpharm

FREE Blood Pressure Monitoring FREE Blood Glucose Monitoring Cholesterol Testing £4.99 (please ring for appointment)