New public health role for pharmacists UK
As part of the Government's public health strategy, a contract has been awarded to Pharmacy HealthLink, The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, the Faculty of Public Health and the UK Public Health Association.
Working as a consortium, the organisations will talk to pharmacists and carry out surveys, exploring how pharmacists can enhance their contribution to public health when providing health advice health, particularly to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.
Minister of State for Health Rosie Winterton said,
"To date, pharmacists have been a major untapped resource for health improvement. The track record of community pharmacists in areas such as stopping smoking, sexual health advice and substance misuse is evidence of how integral they are to tackling public health issues.
"But we would like pharmacists do even more and get involved in aspects of care such as checking people's blood pressure and even measuring blood glucose levels.
"This consortium will help to maximise the contribution of pharmacists, their staff and the premises in which they work, playing a part in helping people enjoy healthier lives by giving them access to more information about their health care.
Professor James McEwen, Chair of PharmacyHealthLink, said,
"On behalf of all consortium members, we are delighted to be working with the Department of Health on this ground-breaking national strategy which will provide a framework for the development of pharmacy's contribution to public health.
"Pharmacists, their staff and the NHS will all benefit from this important piece of work which we hope will bring public health benefits, such as broadening access to NHS advice and services, very soon."
Notes to editor
· Plans to develop a pharmaceutical public health strategy were detailed in A Vision for Pharmacy in the New NHS published in July 2003.
· A multi-professional steering group has been set up to advise the Department of Health on the development of the pharmacy public health strategy. There is representation from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, hospital pharmacy, community pharmacy, the Faculty of Public Health, The College of Pharmacy Practice, the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education, Pharmacy HealthLink, the UK public Health Asssociation and Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts.
· The public health role of pharmacists forms part of Choosing Health, a consultation on Public Health launched by Health Secretary John Reid in March. The consultation is ongoing until the end of June and a White Paper will be published later in the year.
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