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Inadequate IT means inefficient communication between pharmacies and GPs. And that means summary care records are not updated in real time, sometimes taking 48 hours to kick in, says pharmacist Nnenna Odoh…

The increasing demand for healthcare services has placed significant strain on GPs, leading to longer waiting times and overburdened healthcare professionals.

Community pharmacies are well positioned to help alleviate this pressure by offering a range of services that complement those provided by GP surgeries. Initiatives such as Pharmacy First, blood pressure checks and oral contraception prescriptions in pharmacies have the potential to free up millions of GP appointments each year.

By integrating these services effectively, we can create a more efficient healthcare system that ensures patients receive prompt care while allowing GPs to focus on more complex medical cases.

Pharmacists are highly trained professionals with the expertise to take on expanded roles within primary care. Their education equips them to recognise symptoms, identify red flags, and prescribe medications safely and effectively.

Communication gap when pharmacists conduct ABPM and share findings

As part of their training, pharmacists understand the conditions their prescribed medications treat, ensuring patient safety and proper care. Additionally, continuing professional development (CPPE) programmes keep pharmacists up to date with evolving clinical guidelines and treatment protocols.

This ongoing education ensures they are well prepared to take on prescribing responsibilities under initiatives like Pharmacy First, including antibiotics, blood pressure medications and contraceptives.

For these expanded pharmacy services to function effectively, they must be seamlessly integrated into the broader healthcare system. One key aspect of this integration is ensuring that pharmacists' interventions are recorded in the patient’s summary care record.

This allows all healthcare providers, including GPs, to access up-to-date information about a patient’s medications and treatment history, reducing the risk of errors, drug interactions or miscommunication.

However, challenges remain, particularly when it comes to timely communication and coordination between pharmacies and GP surgeries. One such challenge is the communication gap when pharmacists conduct ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and share the findings with GP surgeries.

GP receptionists may not know how to process hypertension reports

While this service is essential for detecting and managing hypertension, delays often arise when reports are submitted through receptionists who may not know how to process them efficiently.

Additionally, the lack of direct communication channels between pharmacists and GPs, such as designated email contacts or integrated IT systems, can further hinder timely decision-making and patient care.

These delays are not just administrative hurdles. They directly impact patient safety. A patient with suspected hypertension may undergo ABPM at a pharmacy, but if the report takes a week to be reviewed due to processing delays, the patient does not receive timely treatment, increasing their risk of stroke or heart attack.

Similarly, a patient prescribed a new antidepressant may report severe side effects, such as suicidal thoughts, during a follow-up consultation at the pharmacy.

If the pharmacist alerts the GP but the email is only reviewed two days later, the patient may continue taking the medication, leading to worsening symptoms and emergency hospitalisation.

Under Pharmacy First, a pharmacist may identify signs of a bacterial infection requiring GP assessment, but if the referral is delayed because the GP’s system does not promptly update with pharmacy notes, the infection may worsen, requiring stronger antibiotics and a longer recovery period.

Insufficient staff training on prioritising pharmacy communications

The primary issue lies with inadequate IT support and inefficient communication processes between pharmacies and GPs. Many summary care records are not updated in real time, sometimes taking up to 48 hours for changes to reflect.

This lag limits a GP’s ability to make timely clinical decisions. Additionally, there is insufficient staff training on how to prioritise pharmacy communications, leading to overlooked or mishandled referrals.

The lack of government-led coordination and policy enforcement is a significant contributing factor. Without a robust, standardised referral system, pharmacies and GPs operate in silos, causing unnecessary delays.

To ensure pharmacies and GP surgeries can collaborate effectively, there must be a stronger commitment to improving communication and integration. Government support is essential in mandating direct pharmacist-GP communication channels.

Investment in integrated IT systems that provide real-time updates to patient records would significantly reduce delays and improve patient safety. Additionally, training for reception and GP staff is necessary to ensure that pharmacy referrals and reports are handled with urgency.

A well-integrated partnership between community pharmacies and GP surgeries has the potential to transform primary healthcare delivery. By leveraging the expertise of pharmacists and ensuring proper communication and data-sharing, we can create a system that works smarter, reduces healthcare delays and enhances patient safety.

With stronger policies, better IT infrastructure and a collaborative mindset, both professions can focus on their strengths, leading to better patient outcomes and a more sustainable healthcare system.

Nnenna Odoh is a pharmacist manager at Orchard 2000 Pharmacy in Hull.