The willingness of NHS England’s area teams to fund flu vaccinations in pharmacies is evidence of the popularity of these services, the commissioning body has told C+D.

PSNC announced on Monday (February 2) that it was aware of 23 of NHS England’s 27 area teams that had commissioned flu services from pharmacies in 2014-15. Kenny Gibson, NHS England’s head of immunisations for London, said these figures “certainly strengthened” the regional evidence base needed for the sector to continue to offer vaccinations in future.

The record-breaking number of vaccinations delivered by London pharmacists this winter was also a “clear indication” that the population appreciated the convenience the sector offered, Mr Gibson told C+D. But it was too early to tell whether there was enough evidence from across the country to persuade NHS England to commission a national pharmacy flu scheme next winter, he stressed.

PSNC said that although almost 90 per cent of LPCs were commissioned to deliver vaccinations this winter, only 54 per cent of pharmacists invited to take part in these schemes had taken up the offer. 

PSNC head of NHS services Alastair Buxton suggested that pharmacists who had not opted to deliver the service could either have been unaware it had been commissioned in their area or had been unsure how it operated. “Whatever the reason, I would encourage them to think about this again next time,” he said.

The value of pharmacy

The findings, gathered in an email survey of LPCs, showed that NHS teams were beginning to understand the value of pharmacy flu services, PSNC said. The regulatory body continued to make the case for a nationally commissioned service to NHS England, it added.

Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster LPC chief executive Rekha Shah said “previous experience and word of mouth” had ensured that the public was now “far more aware of the convenience" of pharmacy flu services.

There was a “real need” for pharmacists to complement the vaccinations provided in general practice as the government's targets for vaccinating 'at-risk' patient groups were not being met in the "vast majority of areas", she added.

 

 

How is your flub jab season going?

 

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