Let me start by saying that, in my opinion, this project has the potential to fundamentally change the way practices work within Bolton.

This change is both intra- and inter-practice and is based on experience in other parts of the country and also from observing the interactions between practices and listening to conversations at the recent neighbourhood meetings.

Claiming the potential for fundamental change is a very bold statement but let me explain; for many years we have been aware that primary care is groaning under the weight of ever increasing demands. Employing more GPs and practice nurses will enable practices do more of what they already do but as both GP and nurse resource if finite we need to look to other professions to strengthen primary care.

Fundamental change can occur when you bring new professions into primary care such as physiotherapists, paramedics and pharmacists. On average 43% of patients on a practice list will receive a medication on repeat prescription so managing medication processes is a massive opportunity.

So what can GP pharmacists actually do in practice?

In my practice, I complete all the medication reviews, process hospital discharges, make sure outpatient treatment requests are completed, and run polypharmacy clinics. I also undertake clinical audits, run training for other healthcare professionals, and process acute requests for medication. All of these tasks were previously carried out by GPs and what it means is that I have freed up large chunks of GP time.

This time can be used in many different ways:

• Running extra clinical sessions which improves access and decreases waiting times.
• Allow GPs to leave work on time improving work-life balance and job satisfaction and therefore improving retention rates.

There are also other benefits:

• Improve services – the time can be used to develop the service offered to patients by introducing new specialist clinics or develop inter-practice relationships.
• Saving money – pharmacist costs significantly less than a GP so for cash-strapped practices, it may be a way of hitting budgets.

I’m sure any one of the above are attractive to most practices.

The roll out of the GP pharmacists will be complete in the next month or two so please be patient if your pharmacist doesn’t arrive in practice for a little while, rest assured they are coming.

I’ve used a phrase since I started working with areas that deploy practice pharmacists which I think should offers a glimpse into the potential for the role:

“After initial diagnosis and prescribing then all aspects of a patient’s care relating to medication, should be within the remit of a practice pharmacist.”

What will your practice do with this new resource?