The Future of Healthcare: Self care and the role of Community Pharmacy

“Sometimes we need a little more help with self-care. Which is where the Pharmacy First scheme is beneficial.

Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s essential.”

by Dean Allen

Why self-care is the future of healthcare.

On 31 January 2024, the government and the NHS launched The Pharmacy First scheme, to give patients quick and accessible care and ease pressure on GP services. The scheme enables community pharmacists to supply prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics and antivirals where clinically appropriate, to treat seven common health conditions without the need to visit a GP.

By reducing the number of patients with common conditions visiting a GP, Pharmacy First aims to free up 10 million GP appointments a year[1]. This will give GPs time and space to see patients with more complex conditions.

Four in five people in England can reach a community pharmacy within a 20-minute walk and there are twice as many pharmacies in the most deprived communities, making access to care quicker and more convenient.

With over 95% of the UK Pharmacists already part of the scheme, it’s clear that Pharmacy First will be a valuable system. This system is built to enable self-care and self-treatment, from prescription medicine to herbal remedies.

Self-care begins with self

With the Summer sun drawing to a close, September is a great time to stop and reflect on our own health. To remember that taking care of ourselves is essential, and something that we often neglect. Tending to other’s needs before our own is great, however it’s crucial to realise that we cannot fill another’s bucket if our own is empty.

Use the month of September to really focus on self-care, to make it a habit and part of your daily routine. Whether that’s taking 10 minutes for a simple cup of tea or coffee, a massage, a walk, or anything that provides a moment just for you, just simply taking the time each day will help you form a good self-care habit.

However, sometimes we need a little more help with self-care. Which is where the Pharmacy First scheme is beneficial.

The PAGB Consumer Healthcare Association published their annual self-care survey[2], providing valuable consumer trends and attitudes towards self-care and access to health services.

Pressure on the NHS

The census indicates that there are still a high percentage of people choosing NHS primary care services for treatment of self-treatable conditions, particularly among younger adults. It’s therefore particularly crucial for the Pharmacy First scheme to be promoted to this age group, to alleviate the future pressure on GPs and the NHS.

With GPs often as the first contact, they will have significant impact on the scheme’s success. Already we’ve seen the benefits, with 75% of appointments for self-treatable conditions being directed to self-care options by their GP. A further 32% (8% points up from last year) were directed to consult their pharmacist.

Each year at least 25 million GP appointments and 5 million A&E appointments are for self-treatable illnesses. If people were empowered to self-care, it could save the NHS at least £1.7bn per year in costs.

Trust in the Pharmacists

Pharmacists remain a trusted source of health information yet there has been a decline in the number of people seeking their advice and treatment as a first step for self-treatable conditions. Only 52% of adults utilise their local Pharmacist for advice. Despite this decline there is a growing call to leverage the capabilities of community pharmacists, with the option for them to populate medical records alongside an expansion of over-the-counter medicines.

However, there is a growing confidence and trust in over-the-counter products. 9 out of 10 adults say they the feel confident using over-the-counter medicines to manage their symptoms.

The disparity between the willingness to self-care and existing resources is shown to be the biggest obstacle for the public to fully embrace self-care. 70% had used the NHS website/app to search for information, and 74% believed that it should be easier for people to self-care without using GP services or A&E.

One step forward, one step back

Three quarters of self-treatable cases where advice and treatment were sought from a GP were directed to use over-the-counter medications to self-care. A significant jump from 58% in 2023 to 75% in 2024.

While this directive to self-care from healthcare professionals is a positive step forward, this new data supports the case that there is a rapidly increasing need to prioritise self-care education and awareness in the public’s interest and to protect vital NHS resources by reducing the number of unnecessary GP appointments and A&E attendances.

The fundamental basis of self-care is to empower the individual to be proactive to their own care and treatment. Almost 78% of adults would choose self-care as their first option and agree that it would help ease the burden on the NHS. However, confidence and awareness have been highlighted as two key areas holding people back from self-care.

Pharmacy First

A large part of self-care is community-care. Community pharmacists are integral to the Pharmacy First scheme, providing specialist support and advice and ensuring a supportive self-care environment. Self-care does not preclude help. Self-care is knowing where to seek help and advice in a way that gives you the initiative.

At present, pharmacists are an under-utilised source of self-care in the community. Whilst 76% of adults agree that their pharmacist is a trusted health information source, almost 50% would not seek advice from their pharmacist as a first port of call.

Fully integrating pharmacy’s role in primary care is vital in creating a self-care environment and educating the public on The Pharmacy First scheme. With 46% of those surveyed by PAGB unaware of the scheme or that they can receive prescription treatment from their local pharmacist for some common conditions, it proves that education and awareness of the scheme will go a long way to its success.

Factors that would encourage more people to use their local pharmacist for self-care include the ability to access and update medical records, private consultations and remote access to the pharmacist. With many pharmacies already offering these services, it highlights again the compelling opportunity to enhance public awareness on The Pharmacy First scheme.

At Precision we’re committed to the future of healthcare. It’s why we’ve been building a new platform that will provide Pharmacists and healthcare brands an easy and effective way to reach hyperlocal communities with the self-care message. Keep an eye on the Precision website and socials, or contact us here for more information.

[1] https://healthmedia.blog.gov.uk/2024/02/01/pharmacy-first-what-you-need-to-know/

[2] https://www.pagb.co.uk/content/uploads/2024/07/Self-Care-Census-Report-2024_FINAL.pdf