Blackpool GP: ‘It’s a positive development’
A Cork GP and councillor has welcomed a proposed expansion of the role of pharmacists in prescribing for a range of common conditions.
Fianna Fáil Cllr and Dr John Sheehan said he doesn’t expect the expansion to significantly reduce waiting times for GPs, but that it will “free people up” from needing to make appointments.
“I think, overall, it's a positive development,” he told the Cork Independent.
He added: “Pharmacists are very well trained, they're very experienced and the conditions outlined in the report are well within their remit and their skillset to deal with.”
This week, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD published the report of the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy.
The taskforce was established to identify ways in which pharmacists can use their expertise to increase their contribution to our healthcare service.
The report recommended that pharmacists should be able to prescribe for a range of common conditions.
The conditions outlined in the report are allergic rhinitis, cold sores, conjunctivitis, impetigo, oral thrush, shingles, uncomplicated UTI/cystitis, and vulvovaginal thrush.
“They are very common conditions that there are well established treatments for. I think as confidence and experience builds, we may see other certain conditions coming,” continued Cllr Sheehan.
“More and more you'll see a partnership approach with different healthcare professionals – nurses, pharmacists, GPs will be providing healthcare. As long as they are coordinated and patients are not receiving mixed messages, I think that's probably the way things are going to go,” he added.
Looking ahead, Dr Sheehan said he expects this new approach to be long-term, regardless of whether or not there is an increase of GPs.
He said: “There are capacity issues with general practice. There's more GPs than ever in training now but that's going to take a few years to work its way through.
“I think this is the way healthcare is going to be going, where people won't have to go to one single person, but there may be a variety of professionals within the community where they can access treatment and I think that's a good thing,” he added.
Asked if any of the eight conditions outlined in the report would ring any alarm bells, Dr Sheehan said no, however treating shingles can be complicated if people are on other medications.
As part of the report’s recommendation, pharmacists will be given the opportunity to undertake training to deliver this new expanded service.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) will arrange for the delivery of this training over the coming months.
Welcoming the report, Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, said: “Pharmacists are highly trusted, highly accessible and highly skilled. They’re In every town and village in Ireland. They are not yet being supported to work to their full potential.”
Countries including England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Canada, and New Zealand have already initiated pharmacist prescribing.