Article | From traditional dispensing to service delivery

Ever since the pandemic hit the UK, pharmacists have been thrust to the forefront of patient care, increasingly taking position as the first point of contact for minor illnesses and helping to ease pressure from primary care and other healthcare providers.

Changes to funding distribution coupled with the evolving needs of the UK population mean community pharmacists must find new ways to keep up with the demand for easy access to care. The shift from dispensing to service delivery is well underway, with changes to revenue distribution making clinical services a top priority. This change will enable community pharmacists to use their clinical skills as stated in the NHS Long Term Plan, to tackle some of the challenges faced by the NHS.

The shift from traditional dispensing to service delivery is enabling patients to self-serve, as well as providing more streamlined pathways to book health services allowing community pharmacies to deliver personalised care at scale. This also encourages further collaboration with GPs to provide services that meets the needs of their local communities.

Unlocking the digital front door

The pandemic has accelerated the need for a digital front door, connecting the population with a direct access route into healthcare, and solutions such as Patient Access are helping pharmacists expand their reach. Patient Access is the UK’s leading independent healthcare app, allowing patients to find and book both NHS and private healthcare services. This platform connects pharmacists to over 18 million users across the UK, allowing patients to book and cancel appointments, request repeat prescriptions and access NHS services from their mobile devices.

In a digital era where quick and easy access to healthcare is vital, it’s important that pharmacists are equipped with the right technology to manage the increasing demand for health services whilst enhancing the patient experience.

Making better use of digital technology with Patient Access as a digital front door enables patients with a simple pathway into services and empowers them to take more control over their own health and care.

Looking forward

We're working to support pharmacists to offer better services to patients, increase efficiency, and improve processes. In doing so, they’re able to align to ICS strategy and break down barriers between care settings to deliver world-class, joined-up care.

The coming years will see technology play a bigger role than ever before in transforming healthcare. As pharmacists continue to adapt to the ever-changing industry, our solutions are supporting improved clinical outcomes and helping you to spend more time focused on caring for patients.