Community pharmacies ‘can pay a greater role in UK health provision’

A new study has highlighted the potential expanded role that community pharmacies can play in tackling major healthcare issues in the UK.

Research carried out by Durham University and published by BMJ Open has revealed that 89 percent of the UK population has access to a community pharmacy within a 20-minute walk from their home.

Importantly, this rises to almost 100 percent of households in areas of highest social deprivation – a reversal of the typical inverse care law, whereby good medical care is generally most available to those who need it least.

Additionally, people in poor communities are also more likely to respond better to the less formal approach and convenience offered by pharmacies, making them ideally placed to address public health concerns such as obesity and smoking.

Lead author Dr Adam Todd, from Durham University's school of medicine, pharmacy and health, said: "With easy access without patients needing to make an appointment, the results suggest there is potential for community pharmacies to deliver public health interventions to areas which need it most."

This could also be important at a time when the government is trying to reduce the number of hospital admissions and shift the focus of healthcare provision towards community settings.