Sleep screening in pharmacy
Early Intervention Community Sleep Support (EICSS)
In 2023, we began our ‘Early Intervention Community Pharmacy Sleep Support’ (EICSS) feasibility study.
This new, pharmacist-led, clinical service helps people with suspected sleep issues access appropriate care at the earliest possible opportunity.
Utilising an evidence-based approach the sleep-trained pharmacist assessed, screened, recognised and facilitated care for patients with symptom groups suggesting:
- Insomnia
- Snoring and
- Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSAS)
We’re looking for more pharmacists to expand this innovation – will you join us?
- Free online training
- Free WhatsApp support and video calls as needed
- We’ll build the business case with you
- Set you up with the CDSS and resources
We piloted realistic pharmacy-led clinical services and assessed the impact of these proposed services in terms that are currently measured (not creating new metrics).
This is what we did (and continue to do):
- Provide earliest possible sleep support, in what is typically the most accessible setting (namely the community pharmacy)
- Assess and signpost patients to appropriate care (not just the GP!)
- Facilitate (where appropriate) home sleep apnoea testing at an earlier time in the patient’s journey
In offering these services we found that it opened the conversation to other ways in which the pharmacist could help people. You better download the report to see for yourself:
Pharmacy staff play an essential role in improving community sleep health by engaging in meaningful conversations and offering personalised guidance to address sleep issues.
Join us in our commitment to making quality sleep accessible to all.
The EICSS report has been independently authored by Dr Adam Pattison Rathbone, Lecturer in Clinical and Social Pharmacy, Newcastle University School of Pharmacy.
Ethical approval was granted by Newcastle University Research Ethics Committee (ref 45289/2023).