Health Initiative of The Year

Blood testing service, Medipharmacy Group

The Medipharmacy blood test service has been launched in conjunction with London Medical Laboratories. The service offers a wide range of blood profiles to be analysed through finger prick or IV samples. Staff have received phlebotomy training and offer counselling advice as part of the service. GPs have been receptive to the service and signpost patients to local Medipharmacy branches, while also valuing feedback from the pharmacists on results that need further investigation.

Community anticoagulation service, Croydon GP Collaborative (CGPC)

This pharmacist-led anticoagulation service runs in the community, working with the local hospital and CCG to help cut down NHS waiting times and free up GPs to cover other areas of health. Recognising the increased increased rates of strokes associated with atrial fibrillation, the CGPC pharmacists set up and organised clinics across nine locations in the borough, available six days a week. Independent prescribers are based at some clinics to intiate patients anticoagulants.

Domiciliary care workers vaccination service, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

The inclusion of domiciliary care workers and care home staff in the NHS seasonal influenza vaccination programme recognises their role as key frontline staff. This joint initiative between Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Authority and community pharmacy contractors for the 2020/21 flu vaccination programme, provided enhanced access to the seasonal influenza vaccination and resulted in a 212% year-on-year increase in the number of flu jabs administered by community pharmacists to these teams.
Hello – hello

GP-CPCS referral scheme, Savages Pharmacy

Savages is an independent pharmacy, utilising the full potential of a newly introduced NHS service – the GP-CPCS – to become the most consistent in its use outside of the pilot scheme. Showing the way for how new services can be implemented to the benefit of the public, GPs and to the pharmacy itself, Savages is leading on how the profession and businesses must develop in ever-changing times in order to not only survive, but to thrive.

Making the ARRS funding count with Push Doctor, Well Pharmacy

The new Directed Enhance Service (DES) contract recognises the need to significantly invest in the primary care workforce and introduced the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) funding. This funding allowed primary care networks to include clinical pharmacists as part of their multidisciplinary teams. Well Pharmacy recognised the opportunity to help primary care design and deliver a truly responsive service to meet the needs for local populations at a time when the NHS was under great pressure.

Pharmacy LFT service, Central Health Solutions

The supervised/assisted lateral flow testing (LFT) service through community pharmacy has led to real-time knowledge and data on areas with higher positivity rates, which means councils can quickly go into communities to educate and prevent further transmission. Central Health Solutions has provided this service through pharmacies, but also sent pharmacy staff into workplaces, colleges and schools to test those most at need. The service is cost effective for councils, brings in revenue for community pharmacy and increases testing for the public.

Schools outreach project, Lucy Chalkley, CPPE

Lucy is passionate about health education, both through her role at CPPE and in her voluntary outreach work in local schools, where she has created programmes including first aid, asthma awareness and mental health. She relishes every opportunity to engage with her local and wider school communities and is proud of the children and their enthusiasm towards the health education programmes she has supported. She says seeing the impact her pharmacy work has on local communities is incredibly rewarding.

Vaccine confidence line, Modality Partnership, Lewisham

With a diverse population, Modality’s patients were typically less likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Acknowledging that barriers to their uptake were hesitancy and safety concerns, the partnership developed a free, pharmacist-led COVID-19 vaccine confidence line. Patients call their GP surgery and receive a call back from a pharmacist with advice about the COVID-19 vaccination. As a result, Modality Partnership has consistently been in the highest performing PCN in Lewisham for vaccine uptake, and the confidence line is now available across south London.

Finalists