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Pharmacists make a difference in heart screening

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Pharmacists make a difference in heart screening

Pharmacists made 2,800 interventions on blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac rhythm during June and July as part of North-East London’s Heart Rhythm Week. The service was intended to be delivered for one week only, but was extended by five more weeks due to demand, Hemant Patel, NE London LPC secretary, told a Pharmacy Show audience. Pharmacists made 250 GP referrals as part of the service, which was one element of the LPC’s SelfCare Pharmacy plan. “We’re trying to bring healthcare and public health together to create whole person care.”

Using ECG and blood pressure monitors connected to tablet computers, pharmacists were able to deliver ECGs of the same quality as those taken in hospital. The service initially received £54,000 funding and pharmacists were not paid, but the positive results had contributed to it being commissioned. “Where we have a feeling that a service will work we will do a demonstration like this. But we won’t do anything for free. Pilots are for airlines!”

The Self-Care Pharmacy philosopohy included socially responsible practice, integrated primary care and understanding the wider determinants of health. “What we’re engineering in a very radical way is what happens when the patient comes into the pharmacy.”

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