Integrating community pharmacy with NHS Direct: evaluation of a pilot scheme

□ The National Health Service plan promised referral to pharmacy by NHS Direct by 2002 □ Evaluation of a pilot scheme showed that the initial referral rate to pharmacists fell markedly over a few months □ Pharmacists were positive about both NHS Direct and the pilot scheme but we found no evidence of added benefit in terms of callers' views of the service □ NHS Direct nurses supported the scheme in principle, but in practice had concerns about referring to pharmacists in the absence of a clear rationale