Ten pharmacies in the Stockport area will use Siemens DCA Vantage Analysers to offer an HbA1c test to appropriate diabetes patients as part of a pharmacy 'Point of Care' testing project.
Project leader Robert Hallworth said: 'The HbA1c project is not about duplicating services that are already provided.
'Patients that are tested should be those who don't attend their GP practice or those who may find the pharmacy more convenient.
'These patients may otherwise be lost to the GP and, therefore, adversely impact on the GP's QOF (quality and outcome framework) targets.
'If they are tested in the pharmacy, however, and results are fed back to the GP, records will be more complete, targets are more likely to be met and overall disease management should be better.' The test can be linked with a medicines-use review, for which the pharmacist is remunerated.
Hallworth added: 'We selected the DCA Vantage Analyser because the enclosed-cartridge system is easy to use and ensures a low risk of contamination with body fluids.
'Results are available in just seven minutes, which is fast but gives the pharmacist a chance to discuss the patient's medicines while they are waiting.'
