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Community Pharmacy England has joined forces with the Taskforce for Lung Health calling for pharmacies to be given a bigger role in supporting patients’ lung health, enhancing access to respiratory care and easing winter pressures on the NHS.

A new joint action plan recommends investing in community pharmacy services to include the provision of annual asthma reviews and pneumococcal vaccinations.

YouGov polling released this week found that four out of five people across England would support these policy proposals. This includes backing pharmacies to offer more support for people with asthma (85 per cent), a wider range of vaccinations (85 per cent) and stop smoking services without needing a referral (84 per cent).

Lung diseases are the leading driver of emergency admissions, said CPE. Last winter saw many parts of the NHS once again overwhelmed as the rise in flu admissions led to exceptionally high demands for emergency hospital services.

The polling confirmed that community pharmacies were considered the most accessible healthcare location for the public. Community pharmacies also had wide support from the public with two-thirds (65 per cent) saying they were important to them. Over three-quarters (77 per cent) said they would be concerned if their local community pharmacy were to close.

Reception

On Tuesday (May 20) MPs and patient groups attended a Parliamentary reception to learn more about the contributions community pharmacies make to respiratory care and to discuss the action plan. 

Attendees were invited to sign a joint letter calling on the pharmacy minister to make better use of community pharmacies in the provision of respiratory services to improve outcomes and help prevent future winter health crises.

Alastair Buxton, director of NHS services at Community Pharmacy England, said that by empowering pharmacies to offer a fuller range of healthcare services, including supporting lung health, they could “provide the lifeline that our creaking health system needs”. 

Henry Gregg, outgoing Taskforce for Lung Health chair, added: “Lung disease is the leading driver of emergency admissions and winter pressures within the NHS. By expanding the use of community pharmacies, the Government can reduce the number of respiratory emergency admissions and prevent another winter NHS crisis – but they must act now.”

Mr Gregg takes over as the new chief executive of the NPA on May 27.