5
THE LATEST
The latest
News and updates from the world of Coeliac UK
C
oeliac UK was on hand as thousands
of pharmacists from across the UK
converged on the NEC Birmingham
for the Pharmacy Show 2015. We were
there to promote our Is it coeliac disease?
campaign, as community pharmacies are an
ideal location to provide information, talk to
people about their symptoms and signpost
to further testing for coeliac disease.
Aiding the early detection
of coeliac disease
As well as putting our diagnosis campaign
packs in the hands of pharmacists, we
presented the initial findings of our pilot
project which used community pharmacies
for the early detection of coeliac disease.
The project saw pharmacy staff from 15
sites across England offer rapid testing for
coeliac disease to people who were coming
in seeking medicines for IBS symptoms or
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We’ve revamped Crossed Grain to improve the layout,
make it look better and give you more of the content
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PHARMACISTS
TAKING A
FORWARD VIEW
anaemia. Those testing positive for coeliac
disease were then referred to their GP
for further investigation. The project was
carried out and completed in 2015 and
the results are currently being finalised
for publication, please keep an eye out
in the next edition of Crossed Grain for
further details.
The show was also attended by the
Minster of State for Community and Social
Care, the Rt. Hon. Mr Alistair Burt who was
keen to emphasise the evolving role of
community pharmacies, as detailed in the
NHS strategy a Five Year Forward View. The
Minister noted that a significant number of
people taking GP appointments could have
been seen in a community pharmacy, but
was quick to add that changing primary care
was not just about “GP resource savings,
but ensuring patients were seen in the most
appropriate place”.
Key government reform
The Minister also highlighted the need
for modernisation, adding that enabling
pharmacist access to electronic summary
care records was a key government
reform. A successful pilot had been
carried out in 140 pharmacy sites, where
85% of participants had agreed that the
system removed the need to contact the
patient’s GP. The government would be
utilising £7.5m from the Prime Minister’s
Challenge Fund to support community
pharmacies with training and IT tools.
The Minister signalled towards
an increased use of Healthy Living
Pharmacies to deliver improved
access to public health and wellbeing
programmes. This year, at Coeliac UK we
will be engaging with these new kind of
pharmacies, in support of our campaign to
improve diagnosis.
Living well
gluten-free
Eatrightandstayhealthy
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