Community pharmacy treatment of minor ailments in refugees.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a scheme offering pharmacy referrals for minor ailments in a refugee community. To determine if minor ailments could be managed by pharmacists offering over-the-counter (OTC) medication, free of charge, to refugees exempt from prescription charges.


METHODS
Refugees presenting with minor illnesses were offered a voucher. This voucher could be taken to the pharmacist, who, after a consultation, could exchange the voucher for appropriate OTC medication.


METHODS
A refugee community in south London.


METHODS
The presenting minor ailment and corresponding medication as recorded by the pharmacist.


RESULTS
A total of 200 vouchers were distributed to 184 refugees over a 5-month period resulting in the dispensing of 264 items. The five most frequent minor ailments were: upper respiratory tract infections (37%), headache (14%), musculo-skeletal pains (7%), allergy including hay fever (6%), indigestion (6%). The five most frequently dispensed items were: paracetamol (28%), sudafed (16%), ibuprofen (11%), aspirin (10%) and simple linctus (8%). Only two clients were referred directly to the GP and two advised to attend if symptoms persisted.


CONCLUSIONS
Minor ailment schemes elsewhere have demonstrated the potential to divert about one-third of patients with minor illnesses out of general practice and to care in the pharmacy. Such a scheme is being widely adopted in Scotland this year. Our results are the first to demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of such a scheme in the refugee community.
Selsdon Park Medical Practice, Surrey, UK.
H
H
Parmentier
S
S
Golding
M
M
Ashworth
G
G
Rowlands
D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000188:drug therapy; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy; D008131:London; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010595:Pharmacists; D012036:Refugees; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs