Community Pharmacy Consultation Service (CPCS)
The NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (NHS CPCS) is a new service that will direct patients to the most appropriate healthcare professional when booking an appointment, which may be a local community pharmacist either virtually or at their pharmacy.
We believe this is a good thing, as your local pharmacist is a highly trained and skilled clinician experienced in treating minor illnesses, and should be quicker. This saves much needed appointments for more complex health needs and ensure that everyone gets treated at the right time, by the right healthcare professional, without the need for seeing a GP.
What conditions can the clinical pharmacist treat?
This will include minor ailments and minor illnesses such as:
- Bites and stings
- Colds and flu like symptoms
- Congestion (blocked or runny nose, hay fever, excess mucus etc)
- Ear wax
- Eyes (conjunctivitis, dry, runny or sore eyes)
- Gastric & Bowel issues (constipation, heartburn, indigestion, haemorrhoids, vomiting)
- Gynae & Thrush conditions
- General muscular pain, sprains and strains
- Skin conditions (acne, athletes foot, dermatitis, rashes, warts & verrucas, etc.)
- Mouth & throat conditions (cold sore, ulcers, sore throat etc.)
What conditions aren’t referred to the clinical pharmacist?
This will include:
- Children under 1 year old
- Immunosuppressed patients
- Severe symptoms
- Pregnant patients
- Symptoms/conditions that have lasted more than 3 weeks
- Has not responded to over-the-counter medication
Our receptionists are now asked to gather some information about your medical issue. Any information given is treated strictly confidentiality. Our receptionists have access to a range of clinical staff and services, so need to ask you a few questions so they can find the most appropriate solution or service that meets your needs, This also helps us to use appointments more effectively and keeps waiting times down.
For example, for some minor illnesses our reception team now have access to book you for a same day appointment with an NHS community pharmacist for a personal consultation. Having listened to your symptoms, and if they meet the criteria, they will signpost you to an NHS community pharmacist of your choice. We appreciate your support with this as it will help free up appointments to GPs for those with a more urgent or complex need.