Community pharmacies in Ireland are providing higher levels of healthcare than ever before, according to a new study commissioned by the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU). The study also found close to universal public support for expanding pharmacy services into new treatment areas.
The Pharmacy Index 2024 was produced by Ipsos B&A and involved surveying 2,000 people in March and April. It found that with 2.1 million visits per week pharmacy usage is at an all-time high. This equates to 51% of the population visiting a pharmacy in the past week and 88% in the past month.
Continuing the trend of recent years, there has been a significant increase (7%) in the use of pharmacy consultation rooms to 440,000 per month.
With an Expert Taskforce expected, in the coming weeks, to make recommendations on the areas where pharmacy services should be expanded, this survey demonstrates the strong public desire for such an expansion. It found that the overwhelming majority either strongly or generally support new services such as:
• 96% in favour of a Common Clinical Condition scheme, allowing pharmacies to provide treatments for minor ailments
directly to patients without requiring a GP visit.
• 87% in favour of greater availability of vaccines in pharmacies.
• 87% would support oral contraception (the pill) being available directly from pharmacies without prescription.
Welcoming the findings IPU
President Tom Murray said, “Pharmacists have the trust of the public and we welcome that 96% of people agree that they get a good service in a convenient manner. This report shows that pharmacies remain the most accessed part of our healthcare system and it is essential to maximise this resource for the benefit of patients.
“We eagerly await the findings of the Expert Taskforce with a view to introducing new services. Where we have innovated and expanded in recent years this has been phenomenally successful and well received by patients. For
example, this survey shows high support for certain new services like blood pressure screening (93%), sore throat exams (91%) and cryotherapy (84%).
“Extended prescribing, where pharmacists can use clinical discretion to extend repeat prescriptions for up to 12 months, will be introduced in September. Supported by 95% of people this is an example of the type of quick wins the Department of Health can deliver for patients and the healthcare system.”
He added though, “New services need to come hand in hand with addressing the regressive pay structures that are now in place 16 years.”
Concluding, Mr Murray said, “With over 1,900 pharmacies they are at the centre of our communities and community care. The potential is there to revolutionise care within pharmacies. All that is required is sufficient ambition and the adequate resources and funding to fully realise this potential.”
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