Services Database NHS Digital Minor Illness Referral Service (DMIRS) (Across the North East – 5 LPCs involved)

Please note this service is commissioned across the North East by the NHS England North East. Therefore, the following LPCs have the same service in their areas:

• County Durham & Darlington LPC;
• Gateshead & South Tyneside LPC;
• North of Tyne LPC;
• Sunderland LPC; and
• Tees LPC.

This service has been added to the Community Pharmacy England Services Database once to avoid duplication. 

The purpose of the CPRS is to reduce the burden on urgent and emergency care services by referring patients requiring low acuity advice and treatment from NHS 111 to community pharmacy. Its aim is to ensure that patients have access to the same, if not better, levels of care closer to home and with a self-care emphasis.

The agreement is for the pharmacy to provide self-care advice and support, including printed information, to all individuals referred to the pharmacy by NHS 111 on the management of specified low acuity conditions.

This service has been extended to March 2019.

The necessary knowledge and skills to provide the service will already be a core competency for all pharmacists, but pharmacists will want to ensure they have an up to date understanding of the service specification and it is recommended that they watch the CPRS video which can be found on the LPC website and PharmOutcomes.

Digital Minor Illness Referral Service (DMIRS) training animation
A training animation has been developed for NHS 111 call advisors and pharmacy teams to describe the Digital Minor Illness Referral Service (DMIRS) and to describe the patient journey through the service.