Can involving pharmacists in A&E shorten waiting times and help doctors?

Can involving pharmacists in A&E shorten waiting times and help doctors? Pilot project looking at 782 patients found 40% could be treated by a pharmacist with advanced clinical practice training skills

Accident and emergency departments are nearing crisis point, but evidence suggests that some of the pressure comes from patients who want to avoid having to wait for a GP appointment. Could pharmacists reduce the burden by helping to treat A&E patients suffering relatively minor conditions?

This is the question that Health Education England (HEE) hopes to answer through a national project. The aim, says Matt Aiello, special projects manager, transformation, at Health Education West Midlands, is to find out whether pharmacists can be a “relevant and viable part” of the A&E team and, if so, what kind of training they would need. Continue reading... The Guardian