The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) hopes that this pharmacy-led review will help identify patients for whom MDS is not necessary or “where other options may be safely considered”, HSCB head of pharmacy and medicines management Joe Brogan said in a letter to contractors last week (September 4).

“Given the challenges faced within the wider system, there is a need to urgently address the current and ongoing need for pharmacy adherence support, particularly in order to plan for a potential second surge of COVID-19,” Mr Brogan said.

Review and remuneration

Pharmacies should review all eligible patients by October 16, using a review tool HSCB has developed with Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland (CPNI).

“The review is not intended to include patients receiving MDS who are in receipt of a domiciliary care package which includes medicines administration. Trust and domiciliary care agencies will be responsible for undertaking a review of these patients,” Mr Brogan said in the letter.

If a pharmacist identifies issues that need to be flagged to the patient’s GP practice during the MDS review, “this should be communicated to the practice using the agreed referral form”, Mr Brogan added.

All pharmacies that return the summary report and claim form – confirming that they have reviewed all eligible patients receiving MDS – by October 16, will be entitled to a payment of £1,894.

The review of this service is “very timely given the importance of pharmacy adherence support”, CPNI CEO Gerard Greene told C+D yesterday (September 10).

“This is all the more important now as we enter into what is likely to be a second wave of COVID-19 and it is not only crucial that those patients are supported, but also that community pharmacists are given the resources needed to plan ahead so that this service can be maintained for those who rely on it,” he added.