The Sound Doctor has produced a short film urging people with minor ailments to visit pharmacies after it was revealed that 20 per cent of GP and A&E consultations are wasting NHS time and money.
The Pharmacy Song is part of a campaign to encourage people to use patient information and good communications to decide who best to consult.
Rosie Runciman, co-founder of The Sound Doctor, said: “The cost of these unnecessary visits is spiralling, but the problem is not just financial. If we can get more people to see their pharmacist first, we can give GPs and A&E staff more time to treat people with serious conditions. That’s why we’re calling on CCGs to join us in giving people the information they need to make informed and sensible decisions about minor ailments.”
The Sound Doctor has a library of more than 280 films covering six key areas of health – COPD, diabetes, back pain, dementia, heart failure and weight management surgery.
The company also produces health and wellness animations, many of which are used in GP surgeries across the country. The Sound Doctor’s main aims are to:
- reduce the number of avoidable admissions (and readmissions) to hospital
- reduce the need for face-to-face contact with consultants, physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and others – and to improve the quality of meetings that do take place
- improve medicines management and compliance with medications
- improve the quality of care for patients (and patient experience of their care)
- help people get the most out of life through effective self-management
The Sound Doctor’s films are endorsed by leading charities and adhere to NICE (The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines.
