Two of our pharmacists recently facilitated a series of workshops on Care Navigation for GP reception staff on behalf of the Hampshire and Farnham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). These sessions highlighted their role in signposting patients to community pharmacy for minor ailments, which can save both GP time and valuable NHS funds.

In some cases, there is little reception staff can do if a patient insists on seeing their GP. However, our training demonstrated that having consistent conversations with patients about the advice and treatment available from the pharmacy is vital, as it will encourage them to think twice before automatically turning to their GP for minor ailments such as headlice, colds and hayfever.

We had some fantastic debates and discussions and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from delegates. Our team looks forward to growing this side of the business further by working with more CCGs across the country.