Dear Helen,
Thank you for your enquiry. In South West London we are working closely with our Community Pharmacies to support Nationally Commissioned services such as blood pressure checks, contraception provision and most recently Pharmacy First. These services have been rolled out and expanded on the back of the Primary Care access recovery plan to support Community Pharmacies being an access point for patients on the high street. We are supporting the pharmacies and practices though the ICB in various ways to expand this provision in SWL.
With regards to blood pressure checks in relation to Atrial Fibrillation detection in Community Pharmacies, we are liaising with other ICB’s in London who are supporting this initiative, to gain insights on the service, although it is at early stages.
In regard to your question on the rollout of Pharmacy First, across South West London we now have 272 pharmacies (96%) registered to deliver Pharmacy First. The programme began in January 2024 so the analysis of initial uptake and impact is ongoing however, anecdotal reports suggest is has been positively received.
Best wishes.
John
Dr John Byrne MB BCh BAO (NUI) DCH DRCOG MSc MRCGP
Chief Medical Officer, South West London ICB
NHS South West London
South West London Integrated Care System
Date: 10 April 2024 at 12:56:06 BST
"Natalie Curley (NHS South West London ICB)" "Sarah Blow (NHS South West London ICB)"
Subject: Re: Pharmacy First Community Blood Pressure Checks.
Dear Natalie and Sarah
I would very much like to support this excellent suggestion for blood pressure checks which would help so many residents manage their health to avoid emergencies.
I volunteer at Kingston Hospital A&E and see first hand the emergencies from low or high blood pressure and I nearly lost my daughter in January 2020 to sepsis and low blood pressure was the most obvious symptom which was missed by us all until it was nearly too late.
I would also very much love to hear how the roll out of pharmacies as a first point of contact for a number of ailments is going and whether that helped relieve some of the pressure on both our GPs and A&E. I have been to visit a few with very positive reports.
I look forward to hearing your latest review on pharmacies and their new role in healthcare provision.
Many thanks
Helen Edward | Parliamentary Candidate Kingston & Surbiton
3 Bridle Cl, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2JW
