Clinical pharmacist
Clinical pharmacists are an integral part of the general practice team, working collaboratively to improve the safe and effective use of medications, enhance patient outcomes, and ensure the delivery of high-quality care.
Services provided by clinical pharmacists
Clinical pharmacists offer a range of services, including:
- Prescribing medications
- Conducting comprehensive medication reviews
- Addressing medication-related queries and concerns
- Providing telephone consultations for medication management
- Treating minor illnesses
- Holistically managing patients’ conditions
- Ensuring patients get the most benefit from their medications
- Facilitating coordinated care for patients
Benefits for GP practices
The integration of clinical pharmacists into general practice teams:
- Allows GPs to focus their expertise on diagnosing and treating patients with more complex conditions
- Helps manage the demands on GPs’ time
- Enhances patient safety and quality of care through medication management
Differences from community pharmacists
Clinical pharmacists in GP practices differ from community pharmacists in several ways:
- They can directly prescribe medications to patients
- They provide holistic condition management, including initiating, adjusting, or discontinuing treatments
- They offer advice on self-care, health promotion, and disease prevention
- They collaborate closely with other healthcare professionals within the practice
Clinical pharmacists do not dispense medications; patients still need to collect their prescriptions from community pharmacies.
Accessing clinical pharmacist services
Patients can be booked for appointments with a clinical pharmacist through their GP practice, similar to consultations with GPs or practice nurses.
These appointments take place in a private setting within the practice.
Patients can continue to see their GP as needed, in addition to consulting with the clinical pharmacist.
Examples of clinical pharmacist support:
Clinical pharmacists provide expert guidance on:
- Medications
- Lifestyle changes
- Optimising treatment for conditions such as: asthma, diabetes, arthritis, and hypertension.
Medication side effects: They can adjust medications or dosages to address adverse effects, particularly for patients taking multiple medications.
Medication reviews: Clinical pharmacists conduct regular medication reviews, ensuring medications remain effective, safe, and well-tolerated, including after hospital stays or treatment changes.
By integrating clinical pharmacists into primary care, practices can enhance medication management, improve patient outcomes, and promote safer and more effective use of medications.
For any further information please visit the NHS website, NHS England » Clinical pharmacists