The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has set out key principles and recommendations for pharmaceutical care in the management of the illness to ensure that people get the greatest benefit from pharmacy teams.
These outline how the provision and access of pharmaceutical care should be embedded across the care pathway for patients with long Covid.
The document includes principles on utilising pharmacists’ knowledge, data and research capability when researching pathophysiology and pharmacological treatments for long Covid; and working towards an infrastructure that enables recognised referral pathways, access to records and shared decision making.
RPS president Claire Anderson said: “We strongly believe that access to a pharmacist must always be considered when new services are planned and delivered to support people with long Covid.
“To ensure that people with long Covid see the right professional at the right time recognised pathways must be established – ranging from self-care to specialist interventions.
“To help those suffering it’s essential that pharmacy teams themselves are supported. RPS continues to work at all levels to represent pharmacists who have experienced the impact of long Covid.”
RPS will use the recommendations in conversations with governments and the NHS across Great Britain to ensure patients with long Covid get access to the care they need.
