Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW) has welcomed today’s Welsh Government announcement (7 March) of a new community pharmacy-based national NHS common ailments service that health boards will be able to deliver through community pharmacies across Wales.

Today’s announcement includes an investment of £750,000 in a community pharmacy IT platform that will be able to support the delivery of the common ailments service and other community pharmacy services under the banner Choose Pharmacy.

This new platform will also include community pharmacy services such as electronic transfer of medicines information after patients are discharged from hospital, the supply of emergency medicine to avoid using out-of-hours services or visiting A&E, and the ability for patients to give pharmacists access to their individual health record to ensure they receive the most appropriate treatment.

CPW chief executive Russell Goodway commented: “The announcement today paves the way for the transformation of the Wales-based community pharmacies into a network of health centres located in every community in Wales, utilising the clinical expertise of highly trained pharmacists who are amongst the most qualified health professionals working for the NHS.”

“The entire Wales-based community pharmacy network will be delighted to learn that Welsh Government has decided that community pharmacy should become the first port call for patients suffering from common ailments and self-limiting conditions as means of easing pressure on GP surgeries,” he added.