Access and barriers to NHS Community Pharmacies in Birmingham

Our research found that usage of community pharmacies in Birmingham is high, with 84% having used a pharmacy in the last three months. People also express high levels of satisfaction with the pharmacy services they access, with 79% rating them as good or very good, and 83% saying services met their needs.

Sixty-seven percent of respondents had used a local pharmacy for clinical or health related advice or treatment. The most common reasons given by the people who use a community pharmacy for clinical or health related advice or treatment are:

• Quicker than making a GP appointment (58%).
• Previously received good advice from a pharmacist (57%).
• Pharmacists have relevant knowledge (56%).
• Ease of access (52%).

The most common reasons given for not using a community pharmacy for clinical or health related advice or treatment are:

• Preference for a GP appointment (42%).
• Lack of private spaces or consultation rooms to discuss issues with a pharmacist (35%).
• View that pharmacists do not have the right medical expertise (30%).
• Not being able to access free prescriptions (27%).

There is low awareness of the range of services NHS community pharmacies can provide, for example healthy eating (25% of respondents), and referral (16%) to other health services. Only 17% were aware that the pharmacist can prescribe some medications independent of a doctor.

Awareness is high for pharmacies’ dispensing function (72%), flu vaccinations (74%) and advice for minor health problems (76%).

Healthwatch Birmingham has identified three key areas for improvement:

Awareness: The lack of information and awareness of clinical/healthcare services delivered by NHS community pharmacies shows more could be done to promote their role in delivering healthcare, particularly in raising awareness of pharmacy services (e.g. Pharmacy First) and public understanding of pharmacists’ knowledge and skills.

Facilities: Support for pharmacies to ensure the availability of a consultation room will reassure service users of privacy, anonymity, and confidentiality. Pharmacies should have access to IT systems to view and add to medical records, ensuring continuity of care and also patient confidence in the treatment and advice provided.

Reputation of pharmacists compared to GPs: To achieve better integration of NHS community pharmacies into primary care, it is crucial to improve confidence in pharmacists through the referral process and by improving people’s experiences when they access services.