Even if HLP services are proven to be fit-for-purpose, safe and cost effective, they will ultimately fail if public experience of them is negative. It is therefore essential for service developers to evaluate

public views. In April to June 2012 all HLP-accredited pharmacies were asked to survey public experiences using a standardised set of 10 questions based on the public reported outcomes assessment card used in the seasonal Napabucasin flu vaccination service by community pharmacists in the Isle of Wight1. Pathfinders were given information on sampling strategies, how to maximise response rates and were provided with an Excel template to collate, analyse and present the data. Based on local needs and resources pathfinders decided how to present and deliver the questionnaire and how individuals were going to complete them. NRES guidance deemed this to be a service evaluation and therefore ethical approval was not required. 1034 public experiences were evaluated across 10 pathfinder areas covering 14 different services. The results were very positive with over 99% of respondents agreeing that they were comfortable receiving the service in the pharmacy, happy with pharmacy staff treatment of them and provided with enough information. 98.5% of respondents

rated the quality of service received as good or excellent, and additionally a very high proportion (98.3%) said they would recommend it to others. Only 27% of respondents reported having been aware of HLP prior to their visit. When asked selleck chemicals llc what they would have done if they had not used the pharmacy service, 60.2% said they would have gone to their doctors and 21.2% said they would have done nothing. The responses show that services delivered were well received

with endorsement and acceptability seen in all localities that reported, and for all services evaluated. The results should be viewed as a snapshot rather than a comprehensive survey as half the pathfinder areas were unable to carry out the survey or return responses, and those who did provided no measure of response rate. Accessing services in the pharmacy setting has been shown to divert users from visiting other healthcare professionals2, and findings from this study support this. This indicates the potential for community Niclosamide pharmacy to support the health and wellbeing of their local community. HLPs also engaged with over 20% of people who would otherwise have done nothing, demonstrating the value of HLPs to improve or maintain their health. 1. Pinnacle Health Partnership LLP, 2010. Isle of Wight Community Pharmacy Seasonal ‘Flu Vaccination. [online] Available at: http://www.hampshirelpc.org.uk/webfm_send/3100 [Accessed 14 June 2013] 2. Proprietary Association of Great Britain, 2009. Making the case for self care of minor ailments. [online] Available at: http://www.pagb.co.uk/publications/pdfs/Minorailmentsresearch09.