RPS wins award for campaign to promote pharmacists’ role in urgent care

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has won a PR award for its campaign to promote pharmacists’ role in urgent care this winter.

The RPS and TVC Group, a PR agency, won Healthcare/Pharma Campaign of the Year (South) in the PRmoment.com Awards 2015 at a ceremony in London on Wednesday 4 March 2015.

“It’s g
reat to see recognition for the RPS urgent care campaign that has resonated well with both the public and the profession,” says Neal Patel, RPS head of corporate communications.

The campaign, which was launched by the English Pharmacy Board of the RPS on 16 October 2015, called for a national minor ailment scheme, a greater role for pharmacists in A&E, and NHS 111 to direct more patients to pharmacies.

Research publicised by the Society suggested c

ommunity pharmacists in England could help save the NHS up to £1bn a year if they were contracted to run a national minor ailments service.

Subsequently, Health Education England announced plans to draft pharmacists into dozens of A&E departments to relieve pressure on stretched services.