Mike Smith puts the world to rights…

We have read much in the press lately that the time for pharmacy has come – but we must be careful that this is not another false dawn. It is clear from recent statements from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) that GPs wish to work with pharmacists and it is in the interest of all that this actually happens. GPs will benefit from the skills that pharmacy can bring to their practice and help to relieve some of the much publicised pressures experienced in GP surgeries.

Patients will benefit from pharmacist input into the management of prescribing and compliance. But is this the right place for such activities, which must not undermine the role of good community pharmacies? I recently attended the UK Alphega Pharmacy conference, ‘The Chemistry for Success’, held in Telford.

It has been widely reported and I feel tremendous pride in the achievement of these pharmacists. Their commitment to patients is clearly demonstrated by the range of services offered from their premises of the highest standard. It is right that these services should be showcased and I hope to read more about them in the coming months.

This is the kind of quality that commissioning groups need to be aware of when considering tenders. There is, however, a downside. At the conference, we heard a detailed explanation of a new atrial fibrillation (AF) service set up by the Alphega Pharmacy UK team, based on the local healthcare needs as identified by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

The service brought together independent pharmacists (Alphega and non-Alphega) to ensure we had geographical coverage in the true spirit of collaboration. Over 600 patients were screened, with nine referred to their GPs, and at least six diagnosed with serious conditions. Of the patients that didn’t need GP referral, a high proportion was guided to other services, such as weight loss and smoking cessation programmes.

The cost of early diagnostic versus the cost of hospital admission shows a real benefit in terms of healthcare spends. But even with clear evidence of positive patient outcomes and cost efficiencies in an area where the need for a focus on AF has been identified by the local health authorities, the local CCG has decided not to commission this service. It is time to get real about this.

Is the talk of commissioning just talk – or are they serious about it? My conversations with pharmacists around the UK suggest that uptake is patchy and in some areas non-existent. What we have to offer as a profession is clear.

I, as well as many others, have promoted the profession for years (in my case over 40 years). In return, we receive platitudes and promises of a greater involvement in the provision of primary care. But I fear that we may still be talking about it for many more years to come. I also have some concerns over the control of entry regulations.

For many years, I was a member of oral hearing panels and have long had concerns that, in some cases, the regulations may defend the indefensible. I refer to two recent cases I have heard of where the existing pharmacies offered a very poor service. The application for a new contract, offering a wider range of services and improved opening hours, was turned down.

There is surely a case for more emphasis to be placed on the quality of the service offered by existing pharmacies – and maybe it’s time to revisit the regulations? I close by mentioning our charity partner EORTC Cancer Research Fund (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Cancer Research Fund). I look forward to our football/netball event this month.

Teams from our Service Centres raised over £40,000 last year and they deserve great credit for turning out on a Sunday for an event which raises money for a great cause. If you would like to know more, please contact greta.shirley@alliancehealthcare.co.uk. Enjoy the weather and take time to enjoy your families and loved ones. Remember, work is only a means to an end.

Mike Smith is chairman of Alliance Healthcare, mike.h.smith@alliance-healthcare.co.uk