NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS)
This service is only for patients aged over 1 year
Why is this a good thing for patients?
Community pharmacies are local, open longer hours than the GP practice and can offer you the same consultation outcome at a time that is more convenient for you. If the pharmacist thinks you need to see the GP, they can help arrange an urgent appointment for you.
Patients who have already used the service liked the convenience of having a consultation on the same day, or a day that suited them, at a pharmacy of their choice. 78% of people who had a consultation with a community pharmacist were successfully helped.
Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals and experts in medicines. They can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for all sorts of minor illnesses, and a same day consultation can be arranged quickly and at a time to suit you.
This in turns frees up GP appointments for those people with more complex symptoms who really need to see a GP.
FAQs
How to book an appointment with the CPCS?
When you call the practice, you will be asked about your symptoms. If they indicate that you can best be helped by a pharmacist, you will be offered a same day private consultation with a community pharmacist.
You can just let us know which pharmacy you would like to use. Once the pharmacist has received the referral, they will contact you by phone in a timely manner. If you have not heard from the pharmacist after a few hours, please feel free to ring them.
Please do not visit the pharmacy as they need to arrange to book you in for the consultation.
What if I get free prescriptions from my GP?
Your pharmacist will provide you with advice on how to treat your symptoms, which may include a medicine or product. Medicines that can be purchased in a pharmacy to treat minor illnesses, are usually inexpensive and would not normally be prescribed by your GP anyway.
You are free to choose if you wish to make a purchase or not.
What conditions are SUITABLE for referral to CPCS?
- Bites/stings
- Colds – cold sores, coughs, sore throat
- Congestions – blocked/runny nose, Excess mucus, Hay fever
- Ear – earache, ear wax, blocked ear, hearing problems
- Eye – Conjunctivitis, Dry/sore/runny eyes
- Gastric/Bowel – Constipation, Diarrhea, Heartburn, Indigestion, Vomiting or nausea
- Gynae/Thrush – cystitis, vaginal discharge, vaginal itch or soreness
- Pain – acute pain, ankle or foot pain, headache, joint pain, migraine
- Skin – acne, spots and pimples, athlete’s foot, blisters, hair loss, dermatitis, rash, wound problems
- Mouth/Throat – cold sore blisters, flu-like symptoms, oral thrush, teething, toothache
- Swelling – ankle or foot swelling, lower limb swelling, toe, wrist, hand or finger swelling
- General – hay fever, sleep difficulties, tiredness
Why does the Receptionist / Care Navigator need to ask what’s wrong with me?
It is not a case of the receptionists being nosey!
The reception/care navigator staff are members of the practice team and it has been agreed by the GP’s that they should ask patients ‘why they need to be seen’.
Reception staff/Care Navigators are trained to ask certain questions in order to ensure that you receive:
· the most appropriate medical care,
· from the most appropriate health professional,
· at the most appropriate time.
Receptionists / Care Navigators are asked to collect brief information from patients:
1. To help doctors prioritise house visits and phone calls
2. To ensure that all patients receive the appropriate level of care
3. To direct patients to see the nurse or other health professional rather than a doctor where appropriate.
Reception / Care Navigator staff, like all members of the team, are bound by confidentiality rules
· Any information given by you is treated strictly confidentially.
· The Practice would take any breach of confidentiality very seriously and deal with accordingly.
· You can ask to speak to a receptionist in private away from reception.
· However, if you feel an issue is very private and do not wish to say what this is then this will be respected.
Thank you for your support