The Pharmacy Directorate is responsible for delivering integrated, equitable and accessible pharmaceutical care that meets the needs of patients, service users and healthcare providers. The Directorate is particularly noted for its needs-based, patient-centred approach to pharmaceutical care, provided in partnership with patients, staff, the public and other health and social care providers.
The Directorate plays a significant role in the governance of medicines and work closely with the Medical and Nurse Directorates and clinical colleagues to improve safety where medicines are used. The Directorate also supports the financial management of the £100 million budget for prescribed medicines within NHS Ayrshire & Arran.
The Directorate is recognised both locally and nationally for its innovation. The pharmacy at University Hospital Crosshouse was the first in Scotland to introduce robotic dispensing, and University Hospital Ayr remains the only Scottish site to have deployed electronic prescribing and administration in the hospital environment. Within community pharmacy NHS Ayrshire & Arran led national work around the minor ailments service now part of the core contract for community pharmacy.
Community pharmacy
Your local community pharmacy team can answer questions on choosing and using the right medicine, and can provide easy-to-understand advice on treating minor illnesses and everyday ailments, such as coughs, colds and flu. Community pharmacists can also provide expert advice on treating a wide range of conditions such as acne, sore throats, cold sores and earache, along with clinical conditions such as Urinary Tract Infections.
Your community pharmacist can:
- prescribe medication for you following a consultation; give you advice on the best way to take your medicines;
- treat many women from age 16 to 65 for urinary tract infections under the Pharmacy First service;
- treat many patients from two years of age for impetigo under the Pharmacy First service;
- treat many patients aged 18 and over for skin infections and shingles;
- provide your repeat prescriptions when your GP is not available (under certain circumstances);
- give women advice and supply emergency hormonal contraception (morning after pill);
- dispense prescriptions;
- give advice on diet and exercise;
- give advice, support and, where appropriate, prescribe nicotine replacement therapy or varenicline to those giving up smoking;
- hold records of your medicines to ensure that the safety of any future medication is checked;
- provide a private area to discuss sensitive issues; and
- give you advice over the telephone.
Repeat prescription collection
NHS Ayrshire & Arran has moved to a standardised time frame for ordering repeat prescriptions. This seven day turn around will ensure our teams have the time needed to carry out the checks required to ensure the safe prescribing and dispensing of your medicines. When ordering your repeat prescription please:
- Please allow 7 days from ordering to collecting your medication at your community pharmacy.
- Order all of your required prescriptions at once.
- If you are on regular medication for a long term condition ask you GP practice or community pharmacy if a serial (longer term) prescription would be suitable for you.
Pharmacy First
‘Pharmacy First’ is a national programme to make better use of pharmacy skills and widen the range of services available in local pharmacies.
Under the scheme pharmacies across NHS Ayrshire & Arran should be the first port of call for women suffering from uncomplicated urine infections and people over the age of two with the skin condition, impetigo. For adults aged 18 and over can also visit their pharmacy for treatment for skin infections and shingles.
When a person attends their community pharmacy with one of the above conditions, the pharmacist will assess them and, where appropriate, prescribe medication. If the person is not eligible for treatment, they will be referred to the most appropriate service.
In the first year of the service almost 4,000 people have been treated without needing to be referred to their family doctor (GP) or the out-of-hours-service. These conditions are some of the most common conditions seen by GPs. Offering treatment in pharmacies not only takes pressure off GP services, including out-of-hours, but also makes it easier for people to get help without having to make an appointment. Most pharmacies are open six days-a-week with some even open in the evenings and on Sundays.
The Minor Ailment Service is also available in community pharmacies to eligible patients (up to 16 years or under 19 and in full-time education, 60 years and older and those on certain benefits). After a consultation with their community pharmacist, people may be provided with treatment, given advice or referred to their GP or out-of-hours service. In Ayrshire 65,000 people are registered with their community pharmacy for this service with almost 10,000 people consulting with their pharmacist every month.
As well as common clinical conditions, your community pharmacist can:
- support people who want to give up smoking, with advice and free nicotine replacement or champix, as appropriate; and
- provide sexual health advice, including providing the emergency hormonal contraception (morning after pill), as well as testing and treatment of some sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
Some community pharmacies also offer a range of services to help you stay fit and healthy – for example, blood pressure monitoring, respiratory review and travel clinics. As experts in medicines, community pharmacists can also give you advice on your prescribed and purchased medicines and how to get the most benefit from them.
Remember to think ‘Pharmacy First’ when you need healthcare advice.
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