A clinical pharmacists role in primary general practice

Abstract

Clinical pharmacist leaders are valued by the NHS because they are well educated, demonstrating excellent analytical and evidence-based thinking skills and professional competency. This reliability often stems from seeing the pharmacy team accepting responsibility, understanding the health care environment, demonstrating their effectiveness within primary care by reducing medication errors, improving compliance, and reducing practice spend on medicines thereby having a positive influence on patient care. Working within a General Practice (GP) setting has been a rewarding career move for most pharmacists including the author. The role encompasses various work streams such as undertaking structured medication reviews, improving medicines optimisation and safety, supporting care homes, and running clinics. This role is constantly evolving as GPs realise the value pharmacists add to the skill mix and the responsibilities they can manage to reduce practice workload. With the introduction of the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (MSc ACP) qualification to other health care professionals (HCPs), it was an opportunity to further enhance the pharmacists' career, knowledge, and expertise, and merge the medicines management experience with clinical and examination skills required for patient diagnosis and treatment. This paper is a personal account of how the authors role as a practice-based pharmacist in General Practice has progressed to encompass a more clinical role as a result of completing the MSc ACP qualification.