Clinical Pharmacists
practice issues nearly half a million prescription items every year, so naturally we get lots of requests for consultations about clinical aspects of medication.
The Adam Practice is very fortunate to have a Clinical Pharmacist in our team who is highly trained as a medicine expert. We have therefore created a telephone and face-to-face appointment service for them to deal with most questions regarding your medication, instead of seeing a GP.
Examples of when you would see a Clinical Pharmacist include
- Feeling unwell since starting new tablet
- Advice on medication changes made by a specialist
- Repeat medication reviews
We have instructed our staff to utilise these appointments, so if you are booked into see a pharmacist for your medication query, please respect our clinical decision.
Thank you very much for your co-operation.
Patient Testimonials
( Reviews left on NHS UK)
“I received excellent service from the Clinical Pharmacist, having arranged a telephone consultation. All my medication was painstakingly reviewed and I cannot rate this service more highly. This is a brilliant addition to the Practice and will presumably allow the GPs more time to deal with patients.”
“Just been helped by the Adam practice pharmacist, I understand this is a recent addition to the Practice and seems to work well….Certainly from a patient’s point of view I believe it will be very useful once its realised what its about.”
Further information how the Clinical Pharmacist can help
Clinical Pharmacists
Clinical Pharmacists are highly qualified health professionals who train for many years to become specialists in medicines and how they work. They can work directly with you, as part of the General Practice team, to make sure your medicines help you get better and stay well. Having a Clinical Pharmacist in the Practice team means you can be treated by the best professional for your needs. All pharmacists are registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
When will I see a Clinical Pharmacist?
You will see a Clinical Pharmacist when you need expert advice on your medication.If your condition needs diagnosing, you will usually see your GP first, who may then refer you on to a Practice Nurse or Clinical Pharmacist.
Below are some examples of how a Clinical Pharmacist can help:
Long Term Conditions
If you have a condition such as Asthma, type 2 Diabetes, Arthritis or High blood pressure, the Clinical Pharmacist can discuss the medicines you’re taking to make sure they’re working for you. They can also help you with lifestyle changes to help you manage your condition.
Experiencing side Effects
If you are experiencing side effects from your medicines, you and the Clinical Pharmacist can discuss this and work together to find a solution, such as changing your medicine or the dosage.
If you are taking a number of different medicines, they can help make sure they are working well together.
Reviewing your Medicines
If you are taking medicines long-term, you should be seen for a review at least once a year.
The Clinical Pharmacist can review all your medicines, discuss how they are working for you and carry out health checks, such as taking your blood pressure. They can also arrange for you to have blood or other tests.
After a stay in Hospital
If your medicines have been changed while you were in hospital, the Clinical Pharmacist can help explain these changes and ensure you get the maximum benefit from these medicines.
Your Appointment
Just as when you see a GP or a Practice Nurse, you will see the Clinical Pharmacist in a private consultation room. Seeing the pharmacist does not replace an appointment with a doctor. You will still be able to see a GP if you need to.
Our Clinical Pharmacists can write a prescription for your medicines but you will still have to collect your medicines from your local pharmacy in the usual way. Please let the surgery know if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, so that another patient can benefit from it instead.
For Common Illness you can still visit your Pharmacy
If you are suffering from a common illness such as a cold, hay fever, diarrhoea, an eye infection or pain, the fastest way to get advice is to visit a Community Pharmacist who is able to advise and sell you the appropriate treatment. If they think a prescription only medicine is
required or you need more specialist advice they will recommend you attend the surgery.
For more information and case studies, please visit NHS England at Primary care or the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
The content provided is for information purposes only. Information obtained is subject to personal interpretation and can become obsolete, thus accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Please consult your own healthcare provider regarding any medical issues. Last updated Sept 2018.
Physiotherapist – First Contact
We now have a specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist running weekly clinics at several of our surgeries. He is an experienced practitioner who can assess, diagnose and manage patient conditions.
Conditions include:
- Neck & shoulder pains
- Acute bad backs
- Acute knee injuries
- Ankle and foot pains
- Tennis elbow and Golfer’s elbow
- Sports injury assessments
You can ring your registered surgery and directly book an appointment – you do NOT need to see/discuss your condition with a GP or Nurse beforehand.
This is a first contact assessment and advice service, meaning that you will be seen and then either sign posted to self-help or given the appropriate onward investigation or referral if needed – ongoing physiotherapy treatment will not be offered as part of this service.
When attending an appointment we suggest that you wear suitable loose-fitting clothes—such as T shirt, jogging bottoms or shorts that you feel comfortable being assessed in.