Pharmacy services

The prescribing of medicine is the most common form of therapeutic intervention used by the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), with medicines playing a crucial role in maintaining health, preventing illness, managing chronic conditions and curing disease.

Primary Care Pharmacy

The Department of Health and Social Care has a duty to ensure that medicines are procured, used and managed wisely.

Currently the Department has a small team of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who are working in primary care to improve the use of medicines for our population.

Their activities include:

• Working in GP surgeries to answer medication queries, audit prescribing and reduce the risks associated with medicines.
• Undertake clinical medication reviews for patients as requested by the GP or wider multi-disciplinary team.
• Supporting patients in our DHSC supported living environments by undertaking clinical medication reviews for older adults and learning disability clients.

Further details of the activities of the team can be found in the Medicines Strategy 2019-2021.

This document sets out the key priorities for the next two years, articulating how the delivery of our strategic aims will contribute to a continuous improvement in prescribing practices on the Island. In summary, this will be achieved by:

• Optimising the use of high quality medicines whist considering effectiveness and value for money.
• Ensuring that care is provided in the most appropriate setting through enhanced integrated working and shared care practices between primary, secondary and social care prescribing.
• Improving the safety and quality of medicines prescribed on the Island, with particular focus on the most vulnerable members of our society.

Community Pharmacy

As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.

If symptoms suggest it's something more serious, pharmacists have the right training to make sure you get the help you need. For example they will tell you if you need to see a GP.

All pharmacists train for 5 years in the use of medicines. They are also trained in managing minor illnesses and providing health and wellbeing advice.

Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.