AAH
Pharmaceuticals. Before enjoying the Ayr racing event, guests heard from AAH Sales Director Chris Frost about the wholesaler’s current activity and future challenges – whilst Community Pharmacy Scotland Chief Executive Harry McQuillan provided an update on integrated policy for Scottish healthcare.
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Entitled, ‘Future Health and Social Care Approach in Scotland,’ Harry’s overview looked at the intention of legislation followed by opportunities and challenges. In reference to the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Bill (SP Bill 32) as introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 28 May 2013, he said,
“The policy ambition is to improve quality & consistency of services for patients, carers, service users and their families in order to care for people in their homes or a homely setting and deliver services that meet the increasing number of people with
he Scottish Grand National played host to a business networking event in April, arranged by AAH
longer term and often complex needs, many of whom are older.”
Harry also outlined some of the current key facts around this. Approximately £4.5 billion was spent by councils and NHS Boards on health and social care for those aged 65 or over in 2011/12.
50,354 people aged 65 or over were receiving care at home in 2013 whilst there were 32,888 residents in care homes for older people in March 2013.
Integration Authorities (IA’s) are now being established and the Scottish Government expects all to be in place by 2016. Each must have at least 2 localities within it and they will be able to direct the NHS Boards and councils to deliver the strategic plan.
Currently, Harry explained, all thirty two local NHS and council partnerships have finalised their integration plans. “We now need their integrated care plans approved, he said. “These new partnerships will manage £8 billion of resources, including those associated with 96% of delayed discharge & 83% of unplanned admission in the over 75s. £300m is being allocated over three years for establishment.”
Ayrshire is the first area to be approved in Scotland with three Integration Joint Boards - East, North and South Ayrshire. It will take another year to fully prepare for service delivery. The target for discharge from hospital should then reduce from 4 to 2 weeks.
There are great opportunities within this, Harry added. Services to keep
people in their own homes are paramount, he said. There will be substantial budgets allocated to the IAs/Joint Boards and medicines will form a huge part of this.
However, community pharmacy may be on the outside looking in, he said. Engagement is, and will be variable across the country whilst current care at home providers are expanding their horizon. There is also little, or no, contact with social care decision makers and, importantly, two, if not all three, Ayrshire IAs are chaired by Councillors.
“Is our Pharmacy Contractors Committee structure right?” he asked. “The Scottish Government will decide to devolve central remuneration to local level and how will pharmacy contract services dovetail?
Expectations will have to be managed.
“The implications from this are that contractors are going to have to find out who does what and we need a review of our PCC structure. There will have to be support to active members and theoretical change to funding streams.
What will the impact be?
“This is very difficult to predict,” he says. “We need to look at the LHCC/CHP experience. Demand for medicines in the community will continue to increase and will we see a greater move from centrally negotiated services to local? “There may also be potential conflict between national and local service provision priorities. The current way of engaging will have to change.” •
SCOTTISH PHARMACIST - 23
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