The role of the pharmacist
The role of the pharmacist
Once you have identified when to refer to the pharmacist, what specialised advice can they offer in addition to the advice the pharmacy support team can provide?
Click to reveal additional advice the pharmacist can provide or when it is appropriate to refer to the GP.
When to refer
- Customer has weakened immune system e.g. has diabetes or undergoing chemotherapy
- Customer has asthma
The pharmacist should refer to the GP
Offer self-care advice if suitable, and advise that Difflam™ can cause bronchospasm, so should be used with caution
When to refer
- Customer appears significantly unwell
- Customer gets sore throats frequently
- Signs of a more serious medical condition
- Has high risk of complications
The pharmacist should refer to the GP to check for any serious underlying conditions. They can offer a product from the Difflam™ range to provide pain relief
When to refer
- Customer has had the symptoms for longer than one week with no improvement
The pharmacist should refer the customer to the GP, or may offer a sore throat service if this is available in store
When to refer
- Customer has tried pain relief or medicated lozenges/sprays, and seen no improvement after three days
The pharmacist should assess the presence of other symptoms, such as a fever or a cough, and use their clinical judgement to decide whether to refer to the GP or test using a sore throat service if this is available in store
When to refer
- On any other medication: look out for carbimazole, methotrexate or other DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs)
The pharmacist should refer to the GP as the sore throat may be due to an adverse reaction rather than a viral infection