Pharmacists' perspectives on the Pharmacy First Minor Ailments Scheme

Objective: To investigate pharmacists' perspectives about the acceptability of the Pharmacy First Minor Ailments Scheme and barriers to the use of the scheme as well as to determine potential improvements to the scheme. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 pharmacists between November 2004 and March 2005. Setting: Community pharmacies within Nottingham City Primary Care Trust (PCT). Key findings: The study has demonstrated that the Pharmacy First Minor Ailments Scheme was well received by the majority of pharmacists and they were positive about the benefits of the scheme to both patients and healthcare professionals, despite raising some problems. Our findings highlighted a number of important issues that might be barriers to running the minor ailments scheme, including the quantity of paperwork involved, the lack of privacy in a pharmacy, and the restrictive nature of the formulary and protocols of the scheme. Conclusion: The Pharmacy First Minor Ailments Scheme has been developed and implemented as part of Nottingham City PCTs strategy to improve access to primary care. Findings show that the majority of the pharmacists were positive about the scheme. It can be seen as a way of improving patient access to medicines and advice as well as choice in primary care. In other countries, health policy makers may consider such a scheme if it would fit their healthcare system.