Pharmacists: A resource for general practice?

Abstract

Abstract A postal questionnaire seeking the views of all Grampian general practitioners (n=314) to a proposed wider role for pharmacists obtained an 85 per cent response rate. The questionnaire consisted of prescribing related and general tasks compiled from the recommendations of the joint working party's report “Pharmaceutical care: the future for community pharmacy” and those identified by a local GP and pharmacist while working on a joint study. The overall opinion of GPs was in favour of increasing the role of pharmacists. They were most likely to support a routine service for the disposal of unwanted medicines, provision of compliance aids under the NHS and a formal system for pharmacists to report adverse drug reactions. GPs were least likely to support the selection of medicine and dosage by a pharmacist following agreed protocols, an NHS funded pharmaceutical adviser within surgeries to counsel patients on the use of medicines, or the provision of diagnostic and screening services by pharmacists. It is concluded that there is a potential for the integration of the community pharmacist within the traditional primary health care team. Roles have been identified that are acceptable to GPs and which could bring job satisfaction to pharmacists, whose specialist knowledge of drugs is currently under-utilised.