Recent NHS England figures show that a majority of community pharmacies in England are offering improved care for patients with asthma and dementia since the introduction of the Quality Payments scheme.

NHS England’s uptake figures show that 97 per cent of pharmacies (11,410) are now signed up to the scheme. They also reveal that since April 2017 more than 12,500 asthma patients at high risk of suffering a severe asthma attack have been identified and referred for a full asthma review, and that 70,000 pharmacy staff have signed up to become Dementia Friends. 

Some other significant achievements under the scheme include almost 10,000 pharmacies becoming accredited healthy living pharmacies and more than 95 per cent of pharmacies accessing electronic patient summary care records to help them carry out their care duties with patients.

Deputy chief pharmaceutical officer Bruce Warner said: “We want pharmacists to make the most of their valuable clinical skills, helping patients to stay well all year round. It is fantastic to see the near universal uptake of the quality payments scheme leading to a range of benefits to patients, pharmacists and the wider NHS system. I welcome the response from community pharmacy in embracing these new ways of working.”

Professor Mike Morgan, NHS England’s national clinical director for respiratory services, said: “Frontline community pharmacists are in an excellent position to give potentially life-saving advice and it’s great to see that this scheme has delivered this significant step forward in patient care.”