Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department is taking steps to involve pharmacists in the care of people with heart failure; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on (a) NHS waiting lists and (b) pressures on NHS staff.

No assessment has been made, however, pharmacists working in different settings across the NHS will be involved in the care of patients with heart failure. For example, in community pharmacy, patients with heart failure who are prescribed a new medicine to manage their condition are eligible for the New Medicines Service under which they receive extra support with their new medicines to increase compliance. Under the Discharge Medicines Service, hospitals can refer patients with heart failure who have recently been discharged from hospital to a community pharmacy for extra support with their medicines to increase compliance and prevent readmission. In addition, the Blood Pressure Check service commissioned in community pharmacy makes it easier for patients to have their blood pressure checked and will refer patients with high blood pressure for treatment to prevent heart attacks and strokes.