The modernisation of dispensing prescriptions, WIHSC report published

A review of community pharmacies in Wales has identified that they are well placed to deliver a range of extended clinical services, which could alleviate growing pressure on the NHS.

Published by the Welsh Institute of Health and Social Care (WIHSC) at University of South Wales (USW), the overall purpose of the study was to consider whether it is feasible to reduce prescription volume in primary care in Wales, through practical changes to prescribing and dispensing arrangements, and whether such changes would release significant amounts of pharmacist time to provide direct care in the form of clinical services. 

Commissioned by the Welsh Government, the research investigated dispensing volumes within community pharmacy and looked at how a new model could potentially serve communities.

It concludes that a shift in emphasis is needed to put clinical services work first within most community pharmacies. At the moment, the belief tends to be that the clinical services fit around the dispensing activity. The report provides useful evidence on how change could be made so that dispensing activity could more easily fit around the provision of clinical services, and what might be needed to move in that direction.

Professor Mark Llewellyn, Director of WIHSC, said: “Expanding the range of services will give people another place to go and to have their needs met at a more local level. However, the research suggests that this will take a change of mindset to put clinical services at the forefront of community pharmacy work in Wales.

“Pharmacies have become increasingly important as we move care closer to our communities, never more so than during the pandemic. More change though is needed, potentially aided by increasing mechanisation and robotics, and innovations like 24/7 hole in the wall prescription collections. There is more to be done to see what is feasible and most appropriate for the communities of Wales.”