Practice pharmacists 'important' to vanguard schemes
"Vanguard" Dudley CCG says practice pharmacists are important members of its multi-disciplinary team
EXCLUSIVE
One of NHS England’s "vanguard" sites is looking to expand the role of practice pharmacists in its multi-disciplinary team.
Practice pharmacists are already “important partners” in the multi-disciplinary teams working in the ‘All Together Better Dudley’ vanguard , Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) told C+D.
The organisation – one of 37 sites chosen by NHS England to pilot new models of care – said it is “looking to expand this element of the model”.
The CCG is planning to work with NHS England to align the community pharmacy contract “more closely” with its “local outcomes framework”, it told C+D last week (June 24).
Dudley was one of four vanguard sites highlighted by NHS England in a document exploring staff engagement.
The national commissioning body said engagement “must be at the heart” of its vanguard sites.
The first 29 vanguard sites were chosen by NHS England in March last year and in July eight further sites were announced by the commissioner.
A further two of the four highlighted sites told C+D how they are utilising pharmacists:
Redesigning clinical pathways
East and North Hertfordshire CCG has placed pharmacists in care homes, to work alongside GPs and other healthcare professionals to provide medication reviews for residents.
The care homes are aligned to a single GP, which means a “beneficial working relationship” can be developed between the pharmacist and GP, the CCG said.
These pharmacists also have a role in auditing care homes identified as having medicines management difficulties.
Key role in care homes
Vanguard site Morecombe Bay Health Community told C+D that all its GP practices already employ a primary care pharmacists as part of its Better Care Together initiative.
Lancashire North CCG chief officer Andrew Bennet said the organisation knows that placing pharmacists at the centre of transforming its services “makes senses for both patients and the NHS”.
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