In the Black Country, pharmacists have been included in the Think Winter campaign.
Working integrally in the multidisciplinary team (MDT) means that pharmacists are utilising their skills to support patients. It also helps to manage the pressures within primary care and ensure patients may access advice without an appointment within community pharmacy.
Community pharmacists and their teams are able to advise patients and ensure they have the medicines they need for self-limiting common ailments, as well as ensuring they will have their prescription-only medicines over the festive period. In general practice, clinical pharmacists and independent prescribers work with the practice nurse and GP to ensure patients have updated medication reviews as well as making sure any discharges from hospital are updated on the clinical records to reflect the correct medicine and dose changes. Discharging patients from hospital is undertaken by a team including a pharmacist. Ensuring safety of the patient is paramount prior to them going home.
Throughout the patient journey, whichever service, primary or secondary care a patient may use, they will encounter the skills and knowledge of a pharmacist.
Pharmacists also offer further services such as flu and Covid-19 vaccinations as well as health checks and hypertension monitoring.
Being part of the MDT develops the skills we already hold, but enables us to be part of the wider team within the NHS to provide care for patients and their families.
As a pharmacist, I have been involved in the ICB campaign to highlight the skills that pharmacists and their support team can provide for patients.
By Jyoti Saini, PDA Regional Committee and Workplace Representative, pictured third from the left in the above campaign advert
Learn more
- My role as a PDA Rep
- BBC COVERAGE: PDA Regional Committee member discusses NHS prescriptions
- Black Country pioneer clinical peer mentoring scheme for clinicians in primary care
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