Service case study: Isle of Wight pharmacy teams’ work recognised by Healthwatch (August 2015)

Published on: 3rd September 2015 | Updated on: 28th March 2022

The potential for community pharmacy post-discharge services to improve care for patients has been recognised in Healthwatch England’s latest inquiry report.

HealthWatch England, which works on behalf of NHS patients in England and has unique powers to advise commissioners and others leading the NHS, held a special inquiry into people’s experiences of leaving hospital last year, resulting in a full report of the current situation. The final section of the report showcases the best examples of projects and services that are helping patients post-discharge to highlight this good practice.

Community Pharmacy England submitted evidence to the inquiry outlining how community pharmacy teams can make a key difference in this area and highlighting some of the great work already being carried out locally. Several examples of innovative services were included and Healthwatch selected the Isle of Wight’s Reablement Project to showcase in their final report. The project involving community pharmacy teams resulted in a 37% reduction in patients leaving hospital being readmitted, and a 67.5% reduction in hospital bed days following discharge and the service.

Read the Healthwatch report (the Isle of Wight Reablement Project appears on page 50)

Gary Warner, Chair of Community Pharmacy England’s Service Development Committee and member of Hampshire and Isle of Wight LPC, said:

“I am delighted that the value and outcomes of community pharmacy services such as our reablement project together with the work of community pharmacists in supporting people in their own homes has been recognised by Healthwatch. Local pharmacy services such as this are helping pave the way for nationally commissioned ones whilst at the same time showing politicians and the public what community pharmacy is capable of.”

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