A new report published today (June 29) by the think tank Policy Exchange highlights key role for community pharmacy in management of primary-secondary care
interface.
The report called Medical Evolution has received cross-party support. It says an equivalent of 15 million GP appointments per year are spent dealing with issues
managing care between GP practices and hospitals.
Research from the think tank also finds 150,000 people could be on 'hidden' waiting lists (where a patient has been referred by a GP for further treatment, but
not included on official hospital waiting lists).
On the eve of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, the report calls for the development of 'interface specialists' - which could be undertaken by doctors, nurses or
community pharmacists to enable them to work more routinely across settings and to strategically plan interface working.