Access and barriers to NHS Community Pharmacies in Birmingham
Download (PDF 1.38 MB)Summary of report content
This report from Healthwatch Birmingham examines patient experience of NHS community pharmacy services in Birmingham. It aims to identify the barriers to accessing services, and suggest areas for improvement.
The data was gathered from January to February 2024 through an online survey, as well as visits to 40 pharmacies, and six community events. In total 466 responses were analysed.
Key findings:
- 84% of respondents used a pharmacy in the past three months, with 79% rating services as good or very good.
- 67% looked for health advice or treatment from pharmacies, citing speed and pharmacist expertise as key reasons.
- Preference for GP appointments (42%), lack of private spaces (35%), and doubts about pharmacist expertise (30%) were stated as reasons that people did not use pharmacy services
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Only 17% knew pharmacists could prescribe some medications.
The report makes numerous recommendations to improve community pharmacy services; including ways to increase public awareness, improve pharmacy facilities, and build public trust in pharmacies.