Care at the Chemist & On Demand Access to Palliative Care Medicines - Halton

(CATC) The contracted pharmacy will provide advice and support to people on the management of minor ailments from the agreed formulary, including where necessary, the supply of medicines for the treatment of the minor ailment, for those people who would have otherwise gone to their GP for a prescription.

Where appropriate the pharmacy may sell OTC medicines to the person to help manage the minor ailment, as described in the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework, Essential Service- Support for Self-Care. The pharmacy will operate a triage system, including referral to other health and social care professionals, where appropriate.

(ODAP) Community Pharmacies participating in this service will hold and maintain an agreed stock of medication for the ODAP service that they are commissioned to deliver. Patients entering the dying phase of a terminal illness often experience new or worsening symptoms including, pain, nausea, vomiting, agitation, increased respiratory tract secretions and dyspnoea.

Prompt access via this service to medication to alleviate these symptoms is essential to avoid distress to both patients and their carers and supports the patient's choice to die in their preferred place of care.