Minor Ailment Scheme + Common Skin Infections Flashcards
What are minor ailments?
Common/self-limiting/uncomplicated conditions that can be diagnosed and managed without medical intervention.
What does the MAS aim to do?
To improve access and choice for people with minor ailments who are seeking advice + treatment.
What role do Community Pharmacies have in the MAS?
Play an important role in enabling self-care, particularly amongst patients with minor ailments and long-term conditions.
What 6 things does the MAS do?
- Promote self-care
- Operate a referral system (from GPs or hospitals to community pharmacy)
- Supply appropriate medicines
- Improve health-inequalities
- Reduce the workload of GP, emergency care + hospitals
- Provide care in line with local + national guidelines
Who is eligible for the MAS service?
- Local access - any patient with a GP practice in the primary care organisation area can present in the pharmacy + access the scheme.
- Voucher - some people may need one + will be determined locally.
- Referral - may be referred from another HCP
What is the role of the pharmacist in the MAS?
Provide advice on the management of the ailment.
OR
Provide advice + a medicine from the local formulary + how to use it.
OR
Provide advice on the management of the ailment + a referral to an appropriate HCP
What effect do minor ailments have on the workload of GPs?
Estimated 57 million visits made every year for MA.
National shortage of GPs and average waiting time of 2 weeks for an appointment.
What are the benefits of the community pharmacy MAS using an evidence base?
Reduce costs, create GP time for the management of more complex long term conditions and have a positive impact on urgent and emergency care services.
Results from 30 MAS + 473,327 patient consultants have shown:
- 92% of patients would have gone to their GP if MAS wasn’t available
- Only 2% of patients would have purchased medicines if MAS was not available
- In 98% of consultations no onward referral to other NHS providers was necessary
What is the infective organism of Chicken Pox?
Varicella Zoster Virus
What are the symptoms of chicken pox?
Main symptom: red rash made up of spots/blisters Usually takes 1-3 weeks for symptoms to appear. - Feeling tired/generally unwell - High temp of 38 degrees or more - Feeling sick - A headache - Aching, painful muscles - Loss of appetite
How does the main symptom of chicken pox develop?
- Spots - starts on face then develop to the rest of the body
- Blisters - spots develop into blisters, may be very itchy but NO SCRATCHING
- Scabs + crusts - blisters dry out
What symptomatic relief of chicken pox could you supply for a 6yr old child who is normally fit + well, takes no other medication and is not allergic to anything?
Symptomatic treatment:
- Paracetamol 240-250mg every 4-6hrs, max 4 doses a day
- Paracetamol suspension SF 250mg/5ml in 200ml bottle
Topical Calamine - not on MAS
Chlorpheniramine - 2mg every 4-6hours, max 12mg per day
Chlorpheniramine Solution 2mg/5mL in 150mL bottle
What non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are not recommended for use in children with chicken pox?
NSAIDs not recommended due to concerns that use of them in children with varicella is associated with an increased risk of severe skin + soft tissue infections
What is the causative infective organism of athlete’s foot?
Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and epidermophyton floccosum
What are the symptoms of athlete’s foot?
Between toes/bottom of feet: - Dry, red, scaly + flaky - White, soggy + cracked - Itchy - Sore - Covered in small blisters Infection can spread so DO NOT scratch infected skin.
