Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what definition of self-care his Department uses when assessing and developing health and social care policy.

Self-care is defined as the provision of advice and support to enable people to derive maximum benefit from caring for themselves or their families through enhanced access and by promoting choice.

This aims to allow people to better care for themselves or manage a condition through increased knowledge on the treatment options available. All community pharmacies in England delivering NHS services must provide support for self-care, including for minor ailments. Support for self-care is an essential National Health Service pharmaceutical service funded through the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF). Signposting to other healthcare providers is also a requirement for community pharmacies funded through the CPCF. The Department has made no assessment of the adequacy of resources available.

The Community Pharmacy Consultation Service (CPCS) was launched by NHS England to enable convenient access for patients to clinical advice and support from a pharmacist. Under the service, NHS 111 and general practitioner (GPs) can refer patients with a minor illness to a community pharmacist for a consultation, advice and support for self-care and if necessary, an over-the-counter medicine. The service can also provide an emergency supply of previously prescribed medicines.

NHS England is exploring expanding the CPCS to other settings including urgent treatment centres and accident and emergency. The Department is considering how the role of pharmacists in the supply of medication can be expanded to provide treatment for specific conditions without requiring a GP consultation.