MPs hear of the role of community pharmacy in managing long-term health conditions.

The NPA was one of several national pharmacy organisations that joined LPCs last month to brief MP’s last month about the role community pharmacy can play in supporting people with long-term conditions.

Sir Kevin Barron MP, chair of the APPG for pharmacy, hosted the event. He said: “It is great to see what pharmacy is capable of and how it could provide more support for people with long term conditions. The All Party Pharmacy Group, which I chair, recently called for a wholesale upgrade of what the NHS provides for people with long term conditions.

“For too long, people have been passed from pillar to post, with lots of variation in practice and uncoordinated care. We will continue to urge the Government to commission services from pharmacies to meet this need.”

Parliament has broken for its summer recess and will return on 5 September. As most MPs will be spending more time than usual in their constituencies it is an ideal opportunity to invite them to your pharmacy and talk about what you do and the NHS services you provide.

NPA calls for national public health services
The National Pharmacy Association has renewed its call for NHS health checks for the over 40s to be available in all community pharmacies.

The call was in response to a Department of Health and Social Care consultation on local authority public health prescribed activity.

In addition to NHS health checks the NPA called for a national smoking cessation and contraception services. The NPA shared examples and provided evidence on the public health services available through community pharmacy.

National Point of Care Test system introduced
A new Welsh Point of Care Test (WPOCT) system has been introduced by NHS Wales Informatics Service. The system, which is currently live in Cardiff and Vale, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg and Hywel Dda health boards, means patient test results will now be accessible for clinicians on a range of devices via the Welsh Clinical Portal. It is targeted to be implemented in all health boards in Wales by the end of the year. Point-of-care testing allows healthcare professionals to carry out diagnostic or laboratory testing at or near the site of patient care. Its use means that results can be received and processed much quicker than in a medical laboratory.