It is sometimes challenging to get a timely GP appointment for common health conditions like a sore throat and a urinary tract infection (UTI). In response, the Government has widened the range of medicines people can receive from pharmacists without seeing their General Practitioner (GP) first if they have one of seven common illnesses. The new initiative is known as Pharmacy First (PF). Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) are evaluating PF to see whether it enables faster care and at what cost. The project is funded until January 2027.
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is looking to recruit co-researchers from minoritised groups living in England to provide advice on the project and help conduct interviews and focus groups. They are particularly interested to work with those who have experienced poor access to healthcare services. No prior experience of research is necessary as training will be provided.
Activities will take place online using Zoom or MS Teams platforms. Meetings (around 10) will be between 1 hour to half a day and will take place between now and January 2027. You would be a part of some of the team meetings, attend training, provide advice on different aspects of the research and, if willing to, conduct interviews and focus groups.
The project team is interested in involving people from different parts of England. Meetings will be held online. For most meetings, there will be flexibility around the time of the day. Evening and weekend meetings will be possible. The documents will be provided in accessible formats. BSL interpreters are available.
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