How Integrated Working Between Pharmacy and Optometry Can Support Gps, Promote Patient

How Integrated working between Pharmacy and Optometry can support GPs, promote patient self care and streamline pathways.

This paper is a taster of what pharmacy and optometry working with the local GPs can create together in the concept of a local health hub.

Pharmacy and optometry have premises in large numbers of community locations. A recent paper stated there is a pharmacy within 20 mins walking distance of most homes. This close locality to the patient helps to remove many of the access problems patients in rural and deprived areas may have. Both optometry and pharmacy have regular contacts with patients that could be used to develop the prevention and self help message in many areas.

So what can we offer working together:

1. Up skilling of pharmacy for better managing of minor eye conditions to reduce GP referrals. What are red flags and how to signpost most effectively?

2. Encouraging better use of the CORRS ( Community Referral Refinement Service) service by pharmacy by education on the protocols again to prevent referral to GPs and A&E.

3. Encouraging optometrists to refer to the pharmacy minor ailments service if a patient reveals a condition that can be treated in this service during the eye consultation.

4. Using the 10 top tips on Eye Health to promote how to look after your eyes in pharmacy. Leaflets to go in medicines bag or if patient buys eye products in the pharmacy gentle reminder on regular eye tests or leaflet. These leaflets could also be promoted in GP practices.

5. Smoking cessation signposting.

6. If during a medicines review there are eye medications ensuring targeted consistent questions are asked and can the patient use the drops.

7. Targeting a number of reviews at glaucoma patients to ensure consistent use of eye drops and effective application.

8. Both optometry and pharmacy can enquire if diabetic patients are accessing the retinal van service and sign posting.

9. Developing a service of direct prescribing for the CORRS service so for patients who require eye drops the optometrist can write a signed order to the pharmacy who can supply direct and if the patient is exempt they can claim payment from the CCG. This prevents the GP having to write an NHS prescript so patient can obtain the drops quickly. This is just a sample of ideas which are effective, easy to implement and with minimal cost but the potential to streamline services and support patients to self help.

Liz Greenwood Chair of the LEHN Mike Rymer Chair of the LPN