Original by Community Pharmacy Wales - http://www.cpwales.org.uk/CPW-s-work/Government-Public-Relations/AM-and-MP-Visits/Janet-Finch-Saunders-visits-Asda-Llandudno.aspx
Janet Finch-Saunders, Assembly Member for Aberconwy, recently visited the Community Pharmacy in the Asda in Llandudno, in her constituency to see the range of services being offered there
The visit focused on a range of topics including medicines waste, over prescribing and the roll out of the Sore Throat Test and Treat service which has been piloted in local pharmacies across North Wales.
Commenting on the visit, Janet Finch Saunders AM said:
“I welcome the way community pharmacists in my constituency are interested in expanding services in a cost effective and patient focused way. The Sore Throat Test and Treat service is a good example of how my constituents can access diagnosis and treatment without visiting one of our very busy GP practices.
“I am keen to work with community pharmacies throughout my constituency to make the case to the public that medicines need to be used responsibly and with patient involvement. There needs to be a culture change so that the public are more educated on the correct use and safe storage of prescribed medicines by understanding why people don’t adhere to medication regimes and helping them overcome difficulties.
“I will be working closely with community pharmacies to help promote initiatives like the drive to “Spring Clean Your Medicines Cupboard “ and promoting Medicines Use Reviews by Community Pharmacies.”
Speaking for Community Pharmacy Wales, Judy Thomas said:
“Janet Finch Saunders has long recognised the way in which community pharmacies play a pivotal role in making healthcare accessible on the high street. She always takes time out to visit the community pharmacies in her constituency and to engage with the staff as their role and workload changes.
"It was particularly useful to share the Sore Throat Test and Treat pilot with Janet. The results of this pilot in Betsi Cadwaladr showed an incredible return in terms of a reduced medicines budget, an improved diagnostic service and a patient satisfaction rate of 99 per cent.”
Betsi Cadwaladr had 1058 community pharmacy consultations for Sore Throat Test and Treat, resulting in just 14%people getting penicillin or a macrolide antibiotic. On the strength of the pilot phase, Betsi Cadwaladr has pledged to roll out the pilot across the whole of North Wales.
