Aneet Kapoor (pictured centre above with Dr Saif Ahmed and Luvjit Kandula FRPharmS) is an Independent Prescribing Pharmacist and Director at KPS Pharmacy, owning two pharmacies in Manchester. With over 20 years as an independent contractor in Greater Manchester, he also serves as Chair of the Greater Manchester Local Professional Network for Pharmacy.

To manage daily operations, Aneet and his team utilise multiple digital systems, including PharmOutcomes, which provides single sign-on (SSO) access to the GM Care Record (GMCR).

Breaking Down Barriers to Patient Information

“Historically, our access to patient records has been extremely limited,” Aneet explains. “Patients assumed we had a complete view of their medical history, only to be surprised that we didn’t know about their medications until they told us.

“The GMCR has transformed this by providing real-time access to critical health data, including medications, recent health and social care issues, and test results. This newfound visibility allows for safer and more informed prescribing.

“Not only does The GMCR save us 4 to 5 hours of phone calls a day, but it also ensures transparency, safety, and efficiency in every interaction. For example, recently I noticed a patient had experienced four UTI episodes. With that information, I was able to provide a detailed referral to her GP for a urology investigation. Without access to the GMCR, that opportunity could have been missed.”

A More Integrated Approach to Pharmacy-Led Care

The GMCR provides a complete picture of patient care, helping pharmacists make clinically informed decisions that benefit patients. This integration supports key initiatives such as:

• Pharmacy First
• Independent Prescribing Pathways
• Hypertension case finding using Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM)

“Having this level of access makes us feel truly connected to the healthcare system,” Aneet says. “Pharmacists see patients more frequently than most other healthcare professionals, so we notice when their health or behaviours change. The GMCR allows us to advocate for our patients in a meaningful way. Being able to access care plans such as the Electronic Palliative Care Coordination Systems (EPaCCS) end-of-life plans, will further allow pharmacists to collaborate with colleagues such as district nurses on medication management.

The Future of Community Pharmacy: Challenges and Opportunities

While digital integration is a significant step forward, Aneet acknowledges that community pharmacies face growing pressures, including:

• Financial strain from funding cuts, rising medicine costs, and increasing energy expenses
• Staffing shortages that impact service delivery
• Rising demand for pharmacy services

Despite these challenges, Aneet remains optimistic about the role of pharmacies in the future of NHS care. “Pharmacies are evolving into healthcare hubs where patients can receive more direct support. By embracing digital tools like the GMCR, we can help support the government’s 10 year plan to shift the focus of healthcare from hospitals to communities, from sickness to prevention, and from analogue to digital. The integration of pharmacy into wider healthcare pathways is a win for patients, pharmacists, and the NHS but continued investment and support are essential to make this vision a reality.”

Aneet Kapoor’s Vision for Digital, Community Care, and Prevention

Aneet envisions a future where seamless digital integration empowers every member of the primary care team. “We’ve only scratched the surface of what the GMCR can do. I’d like to see broader functionality and easier access. With the recent GP Connect integration, we can now unlock even more value as we can see upcoming appointments, recent consultations, and issue referrals directly. There is reduced duplication, improved safety, and pressure is eased on GP surgeries.”

He also believes pharmacies are uniquely positioned to serve as healthcare hubs in their communities. “We see patients frequently and notice early changes in their health. With better integration into care plans, like EPaCCS for palliative care, we can work more closely with district nurses and others to support joined-up, person-centred care.”

As pressure on secondary care mounts, Aneet advocates for shifting the focus toward prevention. “Services like hypertension case-finding, Pharmacy First, and independent prescribing are just the start. Community pharmacies can be the frontline in proactive, preventative care—especially when supported by real-time data from the GMCR.”