Family health services authorities and community pharmacists at the purchaser-provider interface

Abstract

Abstract The views of both purchasers (family health services authorities [FHSAs]) and providers (community pharmacists) were sought on the development of community pharmaceutical services in the light of the 1992 pharmaceutical care report. Questionnaires were posted to the 480 pharmacists in charge of all community pharmacies in Wessex and to the 98 general managers of FHSAs in England and Wales. The questionnaires focused on reactions to those recommendations of the pharmaceutical care report which, if implemented, would have significant implications for the community pharmacist's workload. Both the FHSAs and community pharmacists indicated that, in their view, the skills of the community pharmacist are currently underutilised. Both groups expressed enthusiasm for the pharmaceutical care report recommendations that the following services should be provided: domiciliary services, disposal of unwanted medicines, supply of aids for disabled people, supply of compliance aids and adverse drug reaction reporting. Neither group was enthusiastic about pharmacists providing a therapeutic drug monitoring service from community pharmacies. On other areas, pharmacists were more enthusiastic about the provision of health advice, diagnostic/screening services and treatment protocols, while FHSAs favoured distribution of welfare foods, needle exchange, instalment dispensing and referral forms. Overall, both the FHSAs and community pharmacists were receptive to the principle of the development of the role of the community pharmacist within the primary health care team but expressed concerns regarding the training and workload implications.