AWARD WINNER “THE


MACMILLAN PHARMACY SERVICE


REPRESENTS A NEW INNOVATIVE MODEL OF CARE THAT WILL HELP TO SHIFT THE BALANCE OF PC SERVICES AWAY THE


ACUTE SECTOR TO A MORE FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY- BASED SERVICE”


The model provides detail of the key functions and activities important to support the safe and effective use of medicines for patients and their carers but provides this in a format that enables flexibility for the deploy- ment of these functions through local business planning and service delivery frameworks.


Following the successful evaluation of the project, Macmillan Cancer Support teamed up with NHS GG&C to jointly fund the transition from a project phase to a board wide facility. The expansion began in October 2013 and sees the establishment of the Macmil- lan Pharmacy service - a pioneering service that is already being replicated in other parts of the UK.


With the aim of improving phar- maceutical PC services from the


community, the Macmillan Pharmacy Facilitators spearheaded a quality improvement programme which en- gaged community pharmacies and the wider multidisciplinary primary care team. Key outcomes for patients and professionals included:


Development of a PC resources folder, a one-stop-shop of quality PC information that was subsequently delivered to all 314 community phar- macies in GG&C with the aim of sup- porting and improving the provision of pharmaceutical PC for patients


Development of patient informa- tion leaflets that contained details of how community pharmacy source unlicensed medicines. Turnaround times were made explicit to empower patients to ensure their medication was ordered in a timely manner


Design of a prescribing aide to assist appropriate and legal prescribing and dispensing of PC medicines which was subsequently delivered to all NHS GG&G GP practices to improv- ing patient safety and reduce delays in patients accessing specialist PC medication


Development of PC training for community pharmacy support staff: face-to-face PC training sessions were delivered to ensure that staff were equipped to deal with the needs of PC patients/carers. Face-to-face training was supported by the development of a PC e-learning resource for pharmacy technicians which is freely available on the NES website


Mapping of communication channels within each CH(C)P to improve the transfer of information between healthcare professionals and facilitate seamless patient care


Promotion of the enhanced services provided by the community pharmacy PC network within all healthcare pro- fessions, including pharmacy, to make better use of existing PC medicines expertise and improve patient access to specialist PC advice


Promotion of the PC courier service provided by NHS GG&C, within all healthcare professions including phar- macy, for the transport of urgent PC medication, prescriptions and syringe pumps to ensure that patients obtain their medication when needed and unnecessary delays were avoided


Macmillan Pharmacist Facilitator, Dr Kate McCusker tells us, “One of the


SCOTTISH PHARMACIST - 27


great successes of the project was the development of the PC resources folder for community pharmacy.


“This resource, which now boasts Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) endorsement, provides a single com- prehensive source of quality PC infor- mation for community pharmacy staff as well as GPs and DNs. It provides a framework to improve the quality and safety of prescribing and dispensing as well as practical advice to prevent delays in accessing specialised PC medication. In association with NES, we have also developed a national ver- sion of the PC resources folder and its content is relevant across the whole of Scotland, and indeed the UK.[


“Collaborative working and endorse- ment by NES and RPS have provided us with the quality hallmarks to set a benchmark for pharmaceutical PC services and has seen the ambitions of the Macmillan Pharmacy Service reach professionals and patients beyond GG&C.”


For example, the PC resources folder for community pharmacy has been replicated and adapted for use in one health board in Wales (Aneurin Be- van). Macmillan Cancer support have disseminated the PC resources folder and their service reports across their UK network and have used the find- ings to inform specific work programs, including the UK Boots Macmillan Partnership.


Furthermore, Macmillan Cancer Support are keen that the benefits of the Macmillan Pharmacy Service are extend beyond GG&C and have recently provided funding for a similar project in NHS Highland, in which the GG&C model has been adapted for a rural setting.


“Our work has been published in two peer reviewed publications which will enhance the evidence base for direct- ing NHS resource towards advancing PC clinical services from community pharmacy,” she adds.


“Moreover, the Scottish Governments


“FEEDBACK FROM SERVICE USERS, AND PATIENTS AND CARERS, HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT THESE NOVEL INITIATIVES HAVE HELPED TO DRIVE CHANGES IN COMMUNITY PHARMACY PRACTICE AND IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF PC DELIVERED FROM COMMUNITY PHARMACIES”


national action plan for PC ‘Living and Dying Well: reflecting on progress’ cites the Macmillan Pharmacy Service as an example of good practice, providing further momentum to replicate our service in other parts of the country.


“In summary, the Macmillan Pharmacy Service represents a new innovative model of care that will help to shift the balance of PC services away the acute sector to a more financially sus- tainable community-based service.


“This paradigm shift from care in hospital, to care and self-management at home, meets the needs and wishes of patients and is aligned with the direction of travel for health care in Scotland. Furthermore, we are early adopters of the principles contained within Prescription for Excellence through up-skilling community pharmacy support staff and releasing pharmacist’s time to care. The com- mitment, enthusiasm and dedication of our team as well as community pharmacy staff have helped us to drive and implement novel initiatives that have realised the changes in practice needed to improve PC services in the community.” •


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