Community Pharmacy Consultation Service

In recent weeks you will probably have seen publicity around the forthcoming Pharmacy First scheme, which is being planned by the government and wider NHS.  As part of the introduction of this scheme surgeries across Birmingham are already involved in a Community Pharmacy Consultation Scheme.  To help GPs cope with the current unprecedented demand surgeries will now be referring patients experiencing a wide range of minor conditions to a local pharmacy, where a trained pharmacist will provide a confidential consultation and treatment if needed.

To ensure that our appointments are used by patients with conditions that can only be treated by GPs we ask for your support and if you are offered a pharmacy referral then please cooperate and consult the pharmacist first.  You can be assured that if the pharmacist feels you do actually need to see a GP then they will refer you back to us without delay and you won’t have to start the process again, but it is likely that they will actually be able to offer you appropriate treatment for your symptoms without needing to consult a GP.

We have plans for further changes to our appointment system in coming weeks which we hope will improve the current situation.  We know our patients are frustrated by the 8am rush, please believe us when we say we find it just as frustrating, we don’t want our patients stuck in phone line queueing systems and we are working to change that as soon as possible.  To support our efforts please accept a community pharmacy referral if you are experiencing any of these conditions –

• Acne, spots, and pimples
• Allergic reaction
• Ankle or foot pain or swelling
• Athlete’s foot
• Bites or stings, insect, or spider
• Blisters
• Constipation
• Cough
• Cold and ‘flu
• Diarrhoea
• Ear discharge or ear wax
• Earache
• Eye, red or irritable
• Eye, sticky or watery
• Eyelid problems
• Hair loss
• Headache
• Hearing problems or blocked ear
• Hip, thigh, or buttock pain or swelling
• Knee or lower leg pain
• Lower back pain
• Lower limb pain or swelling
• Mouth ulcers
• Nasal congestion
• Pain and/or frequency passing urine
• Rectal pain
• Scabies
• Scratches and grazes
• Sinusitis
• Shoulder pain
• Skin, rash
• Sleep difficulties
• Sore throat
• Teething
• Tiredness
• Toe pain or swelling
• Vaginal discharge
• Vaginal itch or soreness
• Vomiting
• Wound problems – management of dressings
• Wrist, hand, or finger pain or swelling

In coming weeks and months it is likely this scheme will extend to include the treatment of UTIs (urine infection), mild skin infections (due to insect bites, impetigo or infected eczema for example) and ear infections.  The above list is not exhaustive, you should consult the pharmacy first for any minor ailment or symptom.