Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS)
The NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (NHS CPCS) is a new service that will direct patients to the most appropriate healthcare professional when booking an appointment, which may be a local community pharmacist either virtually or at their pharmacy.
We believe this is a good thing, as your local pharmacist is a highly trained and skilled clinician experienced in treating minor illnesses and should be quicker. In addition, this approach saves much-needed appointments for more complex health needs. Finally, it ensures that everyone gets treated at the right time, by the right healthcare professional, withoutnecessarily having to see a GP.
What conditions can the clinical pharmacist treat?
Examples include minor ailments and minor illnesses such as:
- Bites and stings
- Colds and flu-like symptoms
- Congestion (blocked or runny nose, hay fever, excess mucus etc.)
- Ear wax
- Eyes (conjunctivitis, dry, runny or sore eyes)
- Gastric & Bowel issues (constipation, heartburn, indigestion, haemorrhoids, vomiting)
- Gynae & Thrush conditions
- General muscular pain, sprains and strains
- Skin conditions (acne, athlete's foot, dermatitis, rashes, warts &verrucas, etc.)
- Mouth & throat conditions (cold sore, ulcers, sore throat etc.)
What conditions aren't referred to the clinical pharmacist?
These include:
- Children aged under one
- Immunosuppressed patients
- Severe symptoms
- Pregnant patients
- Symptoms/conditions that have lasted more than three weeks