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National common ailments service for Wales

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National common ailments service for Wales

Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW) has welcomed today’s Welsh Government announcement (March 7) of a new community pharmacy-based national NHS common ailments service that health boards will be able to deliver through community pharmacies across Wales.

Today’s announcement includes an investment of £750,000 in a community pharmacy IT platform that will be able to support the delivery of the common ailments service and other community pharmacy services under the banner Choose Pharmacy.

The NHS Wales Choose Pharmacy service will be based on two successful pathfinder schemes that have been operating in 32 pharmacies in Cynon Valley and Gwynedd.

In addition to the common ailments service, the Choose Pharmacy platform will facilitate the electronic transfer of information regarding patients' medicines when they are discharged from hospital, as well as enabling pharmacies to provide emergency supplies of medicines avoiding the need for patients to visit out-of-hours or A&E services.

It will also allow patients to give permission for the pharmacist to have access to their individual health records to ensure that they receive the most appropriate treatment for their condition.

Russell Goodway, chief executive at CPW, said the announcement paves the way for the transformation of community pharmacies "into a network of health centres located in every community in Wales, utilising the clinical expertise of highly trained pharmacists who are amongst the most qualified health professionals working for the NHS".

“The entire Wales-based community pharmacy network will be delighted to learn that Welsh Government has decided that community pharmacy should become the first port call for patients suffering from common ailments and self-limiting conditions as means of easing pressure on GP surgeries,” he said.

Highly trained pharmacists are among the most qualified health professionals working for the NHS

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