NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF
UPDATES ON ‘MODERNISING PHARMACy REGUlATION’
The GPhC has published an important update paper, Modernising Pharmacy Regulation: from prototype to implementation, which provides an update on their new model for regulation of pharmacies including our prototype inspection model.
The paper highlights the progress that has been made to modernise pharmacy regulation and also highlights those areas where they intend to adapt and change the prototype model. It also sets out a projected timetable for carrying out further engagement on a number of issues.
Commenting on the publication of the paper, Duncan Rudkin said it is an important document to look at where further change is needed. “We are grateful for all the positive engagement we have had from the pharmacy sector as well as patients. This paper is an important update on our prototype model setting out those areas where the model is working well, and those areas where we need to adapt and change,” he said.
“A key example is that we’ve accepted that we need to review our ratings model and that we need to find an alternative to the satisfactory rating. We will be consulting more formally on the prototype model at a later stage. In the meantime we continue to welcome views on how the inspection model can be improved.”
If Government legislation is put before parliament before the end of 2015 GPhC expect to begin formal consultation within weeks of that happening, to enable them to finalise proposals and move to full implementation in 2016, subject to the outcomes of the GPhC consultation.
Donald Rudkin, CEO, GPhC
Still work to do in pharmacy prescribing
The information was published recently within the NHS for Scotland NES Pharmacy Spring newsletter and states that NES Pharmacy currently involved in many of the key working groups being set up under the four main workstreams from the Scottish Government Vision and Action plan `Prescription for Excellence’ (PfE).
One of the initial actions has been in relation to developing the capacity of Clinical Pharmacist Independent Prescribers within NHS Scotland.
The report states that, ‘To date, there are just over 1000 pharmacists within Scotland who have undertaken prescribing training. This still leaves a bit of work to do if the Vision that `all patient facing pharmacists should be prescribers to manage caseloads of patients with long term and common clinical conditions` is to become a reality. As a result, NES has been given monies from Scottish Government to take forward this agenda.’
NES has commissioned Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and the University of Strathclyde to each run two courses, to launch either this year (2015) or in early 2016.
The NES team are also working within the focus of prescribing training and in particular, two main areas:
• to commission additional independent prescribing courses at both Schools of Pharmacy (1 course currently underway at Strathclyde, and 2 courses currently advertised at each of the
two Schools of Pharmacy at Strathclyde and RGU for 2015)
• to commission Clinical skills training from Schools of Medicine/Nursing in conjunction with the Schools of Pharmacy which will include Consultation skills, Core Clinical Assessment skills and Advanced Clinical Assessment skills.
Fiona Reid, who was previously PEC (East) has been seconded for a year to help lead this Prescribing and Clinical Skills Development Work.
Teach and Treat centres In addition, NES is planning to fund several Teach and Treat services in a variety of clinical specialties throughout Scotland.
These are specialised clinics run by pharmacist prescribers which will be used as centres of excellence to mobilise and develop qualified pharmacist prescribers and support those in training.
With the numbers required, it has been recognised that additional support networks are required within the service and NES is currently
working with the NHS Boards on a regional basis to set this up using `Pharmacist Independent Prescribing Ambassadors` and peer review sessions.
`Prescription for Excellence` refers to Accreditation of these Clinical Pharmacists Independent Prescribers and NES is also looking at various options that could build a framework for a national accreditation scheme.
Pharmacy Career Development Framework The NES Pharmacy team is also likely to be involved in developing an NHS Pharmacy Career Development Framework for pharmacists and in conjunction with this, for pharmacy technicians and support staff too.
In particular, Professor Rose Marie Parr will be jointly leading a PfE Working group looking at establishing an additional framework for Clinical and Professional Leadership for Pharmacy as well as the team being involved in educational aspects arising out of many of the other key workstreams and working groups.
GP Practices struggling to cope
Scottish Pharmacist has learned of high vacancy rates throughout GP practices here, which are leaving practices struggling to cope. A survey published this month (March), undertaken by the Scottish GP Committee, found that 17% of the 463 practices who responded had at least one GP vacancy.
GPs from across Scotland gathered in Clydebank for the Annual Conference of Scottish Local Medical Committees, recently where the challenges of GP workforce and workload were high on the agenda. It was at this meeting a
4 - SCOTTISH PHARMACIST
warning was issued of a recruitment crisis in this sector.
Mark Feeney, Policy and Development Pharmacist at CPS told Scottish Pharmacist, “Community pharmacy teams across Scotland already support our general practice colleagues to deliver patient care. Fully utilising serial prescription and enhancing the Chronic Medication Services would allow pharmacy teams to take a more active role for people with long term conditions. This in turn would alleviate some of the pressure on General Practice. Greater integration of general
practice and community pharmacy would have significant benefits to patient care.”
Dr Alan McDevitt, Chair of the BMA’s Scottish GP committee said, “Access to pharmacy advice in GP practices as part of the primary care team would have the potential to improve the skills mix in local GP services by raising the number of healthcare professionals on hand to provide help to patients as well as helping to help improve prescribing practise and relieving some of the pressure on GPs and practices.”
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