More people accessing pharmacy services in Cornwall
The NHS are celebrating pharmacies for easing pressures on emergency services
More people are accessing pharmacy services in Cornwall, figures suggest.
According to Community Pharmacy Cornwall, more than 500 unnecessary trips to the emergency department have been avoided, stopping extra pressure on emergency care services.
The NHS are urging people to visit 'Pharmacy First' for tests including blood pressure checks to prescriptions for emergency contraception, as well as treatment for 7 common conditions.
WICS was the successful pilot for Pharmacy First and launched across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in January 2021. The service has now seen more than 38,000 patient consultations, with 80% of those patients’ receiving advice or treatment before leaving the pharmacy.
Dr Chris Reid, chief medical officer for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, said:
"Our community pharmacies are doing a great job by offering a simple and quick way to access treatment. This has reduced patient waiting times and freed up GP appointments for those with more complex health issues.
"We know that many people love the ease and convenience of being able to pop into a local pharmacy to get the help they need."
This has also resulted in the avoidance of more than 500 unnecessary trips to the emergency department, according to Community Pharmacy Cornwall which has provided statistics on the success of WICS.
Both initiatives were introduced to enable safe and accessible healthcare, by allowing patients to receive treatment for minor ailments directly from community pharmacies without needing a GP appointment.
Pharmacy First launched on 31 January 2024 with the main aim of treating 7 common conditions, these are sinusitis, sore throats, earaches, insect bites, skin infections, shingles, and urinary tract infections.
Both services are still running and patients can walk into to their local pharmacy for an on-the-day consultation instead of calling or attending their GP practice. This is proving particularly convenient during the winter months and seasonally when holiday makers are in the county adding additional pressures to local services.
Nick Kaye, CEO of Community Pharmacy Cornwall, said:
"Community Pharmacies in Cornwall have led the way with our England first walk in service, in fact the success of this service has led to further national service being commissioned in Pharmacy First. Community Pharmacy teams across Cornwall should feel proud of their hard work and commitment to patient care."
Alongside these initiatives pharmacists can carry out health screenings such as blood pressure checks, cholesterol tests, and diabetes monitoring to help detect and manage health conditions early.
They can provide emergency contraceptives and certain vaccinations, such as flu, Covid-19 and travel. Find your local pharmacist using NHS Find a pharmacy tool.
Pharmacists are trained and highly skilled in treating minor illness. They are able to recognise ‘red flag’ symptoms that could indicate more serious illness and can support patients to get urgent care if needed.
February is National Heart Month, so as well as visiting your local pharmacist for a blood pressure check, Healthy Cornwall is also offering checks at libraries across the county, while promoting the fact that every library across Cornwall provides blood pressure monitors for local people to borrow to monitor their own blood pressure. Visit their website to find out which local library is running healthy heart events near you.
Preventing and tackling high blood pressure is a priority of the NHS, which is seeking the views of local people which will help shape future services.