By Pash Sonigra on January 10, 2025
Health Inequalities hit the headlines every week, and speaking to you when we’ve been out and about has shone a light on just how difficult it is to strike a balance. When we talked to you, there was no escaping from the fact that it’s not as open and shut as getting it right and wrong.
Addressing the root causes
Tackling Health Inequalities is strategic and more encompassing than simply folding a few KPIs into a review service. It requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the underlying social and economic factors contributing to poor health. These include poverty, unemployment, inadequate housing, and limited access to healthy food and green spaces.
In theory, an ICS approach should facilitate collaborative planning between health systems and local authorities. However, in practice, it’s not that simple. There are no short-term wins, and the long-term requires many moving parts, which is your biggest bugbear.
Impactful change needs to come from the top, and in his New Year speech, the prime minister promises to ‘shift treatment away from hospitals and centres And deliver more care at GPs, in community and homes.’ We need a roadmap to make this happen because it all sounds great, but when we’re doing the work, the magic of words can quickly evaporate.
A community-centred approach
Our approach to medicines optimisation emphasises a community-centred model. We work closely with local stakeholders, including community pharmacies, GPs, and secondary care providers, to understand the unique needs and challenges of local populations. We take the time to understand these, allowing us to tailor review services to address regional priorities and ensure fair access to care.
Interestingly, when I was a panellist on the ‘Reimaging medicines optimisation’ panel in November, an impactful comment was made about how to engage with patients we don’t hear from. What outreach is needed, and how do we get in front of them?
Neil Hardy, Chief Pharmacist of NHS Hampshire and Isle of White, who was also a panellist, said that ‘getting in front of these patients was key’ because they’re the ones who most likely will end up in hospital, where months earlier preventative treatment at primary care would have improved their quality of life, keeping them out of hospital.
The power of community pharmacy
Local village and high street pharmacies are the key points of contact for patients. They get to know the friendly faces behind the counter and see them more than their local GPs. This relationship is central to supporting populations.
When we carry out review services, our approach is to engage with local pharmacies to:
- Inform them of the work we’re carrying out so they understand what initiatives primary care are working towards
- Outline the type of review we’re carrying out so they know which patients to look out for and what guidance they may need
- Prepare their stock management
A collaborative partnership
Rolling out successful review services is not just about making efficiencies and impacting the bottom line. It’s about ensuring the right patients receive the right medications at the right dose for the right reasons and at the right time. So, we can improve health outcomes for all.
If you’d like to discuss the topic in more detail, reach out to Mahesh Mistry on LinkedIn or by email.
Interested to learn more about our digital tool and how we can help? Fill in the form below and we’ll be in touch
