Services Database General Practice Digital Minor Illness Referral Enhanced Service (GP DMIRS)

As part of the Pharmacy Integration Fund programme of work to integrate community pharmacy into local NHS urgent care pathways, a new approach is being taken to create a digital process for sending a "referral" to a community pharmacist instead of booking a GP appointment for a low acuity minor illness assessment.

The purpose of the General Practice Digital Minor Illness Referral Service (GP DMIRS) is to reduce the burden on general pratice by referring patients requiring advice and treatment for certain low acquity conditions from a GP practice to a community pharmacist. Its aim is to ensure that patients have access to the same levels of care, close to home and with a self-care emphasis.

The end points of the consultation may include:

• Advice given only
• Advice and sale of an Over the Counter (OTC) medicine
• Advice and referral into a pharmacy local Minor Ailments Service (MAS) (depending on local commissioning arrangements)
• Advice and referral into a local Patient Group Direction service (dependent on local commissioning arrangements)
• Advice and referral back into the patient's GP (pharmacist to arrange appointment for the patient at the patient's own GP - as part of this service)
• Advice and signpost on to another service.

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 DMIRS 111 Referral video for background knowledge.