There has been a lot of talk in the pharmacy profession since the CEO of Woolworths was seen on TV news announcing his ambitious plan to have pharmacies in 100 supermarket stores in the near future.
In my GP conversations, surprisingly, this has not come up - I wonder why?

Since the introduction of the Medication Review option for GPs, patients and the pharmacist I have heard much from doctors on their local pharmacies.
Usually they get along well and now that HMR is on the joint agenda perhaps there is more dialogue but here are also some interesting insights.
Initially I was hearing some scepticism as to whether their local pharmacy could or would provide this service.
I am pleased to report that since then most of the pharmacies did register to do HMRs, most have processed some, up to 20-30 and the GPs are pleased with the results.
But recently the solutions I have been after have been around the fact that some pharmacists, those servicing customers of two large surgeries I visit have been too busy to process the 15-20 HMR referrals that have been written for patients and delivered to the pharmacy.
One pharmacy sent them all back to the GP; the other is sitting on them until he is accredited!
One referral is six months overdue and the GP says it is now obsolete for her to pursue.
This not only is a disappointment for the patient but an annoyance to the GP who I might add has spent 15 -20 minutes briefing the patient and collating and writing up a referral for NO payment (yet).
All it would take is for the pharmacist to make a phone call!

So with this kind of experience, rather than not write the referral in the future (now what they are thinking of doing) they may be better off sending it to Woolworths.
There is an adequate supply of accredited pharmacists in this area at least who are only too willing to visit patients and complete the review for any pharmacy that like to engage them.
And the pharmacy knows that I can supply names and contacts - a choice of 3-4 - if they call me.
So where is the problem?
Do they not want to pay an accredited pharmacist for a couple of hour's work?

Perhaps the Woolworths pharmacist will not hesitate to contact me for an accredited pharmacist contact and get the medication review done in a timely manner.
After all that is what is done with film processing - send them out to the experts and the task is done for you and the customer.
So if the service was better in this regard why would not the GP be pleased with the Woolworths pharmacy?
And most patients go to Woolworths so it would not be a problem for them.
Woolworths could also have an accredited pharmacist(s) working for them to handle all the referrals from several stores.
What I am saying is that with a consciencous pharmacist committed to providing a professional service, free from pressing business duties what is the difference.
It could be better.
Of course they would need an HIC approval to do this and that may be a difficulty preventing this happening but I bet they are committed to service.
I have seen pharmacies in the USA in supermarkets and they only have the pharmacy goods there to sell.
Even toiletries and unscheduled goods are in the main area of the supermarket and they concentrate in the pharmacy on pure professional duties - counselling patients, dispensing scripts and offering health services.

Next article in Woolworths series------->