title: Cost analysis of a community pharmacy 'minor ailment scheme' across three primary care trusts in the North East of England.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A large proportion of primary care medical consultations relate to minor ailments, placing a substantial burden on the UK National Health Service (NHS). In response, minor ailment schemes (MAS) have been introduced in several community pharmacies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients using MAS across three neighbouring primary care trusts were asked what action they would have taken if the MAS had not been in place. The net cost impact of the MAS was calculated using standard health-care reference costs. The observation period was one calendar month with annualized cost data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the observation period 396 patients used the MAS of whom 230 (58.1%) stated they would have made an appointment with their general practitioner (GP) if the MAS was not in place. A further 155 (39.1%) would have bought a medicine from the pharmacy. Other responses included attending the accident and emergency department at hospital (n= 2), consulting a health visitor (n= 1), or doing nothing (n= 8). The MAS is estimated to reduce local health-care costs by £6739 per month.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MAS release NHS resources (especially in relation to GP consultations) by preventing (or minimizing) patient use of alternative and more costly branches of the NHS.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Health and Wellbeing, Sunderland University, City Campus, Chester Road, Sunderland SR1 3SD, UK. wasim.baqir@nhs.net
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baqir
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Learoyd
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Todd
mesh_terms: D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017046:Cost Savings; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004739:England; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs