500 successful smoking quits in NHS Lanarkshire


NPA IN FOCUS


NPA centenary 2021 This year officially marks the centenary of the National Pharmacy Association. For 100 years, the NPA has brought community pharmacists together and sought to provide the very best support for our members across the UK.


Today, more than ever in our long history, the NPA is proud to represent and support community pharmacies and community pharmacy people. We see this as a moment to look to the future, not just to the proud past of community pharmacy - so watch out for a string of NPA service developments this year. We look forward to serving our wonderful members in Scotland for many years to come.


When I meet members around the country, the same issue keeps popping up – workforce shortages. Like all the pharmacy sectors, community pharmacy is also facing a workforce shortage, although it is geographically variable. Some areas find it harder to recruit than others. The NPA is part of a working group to develop resources on promoting community pharmacy as a career choice, with roles not just for pharmacists but for the whole pharmacy team. Contact me on j.oman@npa.co.uk or call 07538 192588 for more information.


Scotland Administrative Activity Planner


A patient receives a social- distanced visit from a stop smoking advisor


500 people in Lanarkshire have quit smoking with the support of NHS Lanarkshire’s quit Your Way service, since 1 April 2020.


When it comes to quitting smoking, everyone is different, but giving up is not something people have to do on their own. quit Your Way is a free NHS Lanarkshire stop smoking service, where there is a variety of options available offering friendly and free support, advice and access to treatments.


‘I have smoked for over 50 years,’ said one Lanarkshire resident, who successfully quit smoking during lockdown, ‘and, as a result, was diagnosed with COPD six years ago. I contacted the service in Lanarkshire, who provided support during the coronavirus outbreak via the telephone and also delivered my aids to the door because I was shielding.


‘Their commitment and


determination to provide service over this challenging period was very motivational to someone trying to


stop smoking after all these years. I would like to convey my sincere thanks the team for their support and enthusiasm.’


‘The coronavirus outbreak has changed daily lives for us all,’ commented Shirley Mitchell, Tobacco Control Programme Manager, NHS Lanarkshire. ‘That’s why we are so proud of the success these people of Lanarkshire have achieved by quitting during lockdown.


‘NHS Lanarkshire is continuing to support residents to quit smoking during the fight against coronavirus, and if anyone is thinking of quitting smoking, quit Your Way offers specialist stop smoking support in a way that works for you.’


quit Your Way can be contacted Monday – Friday from 9am until 5pm. For more information on how to access the stop smoking services, patients should call the quit Your Way helpline service on 0800 84 84 84, or visit quitYourWay.scot.


Flu vaccinations


Flu season has finally hit us and NPA members are reminded of the various resources they have at their disposal. We know community pharmacies have been reintroducing vaccination services in a risk-managed manner.


All resources within the NPA vaccination services pack have been designed or adapted to include COVID-19 specific measures. They can be used to support delivery of both NHS and private vaccination services, as well as other vaccination services.


Go to www.npa.co.uk/npa- vaccination-services-resources-202 0-2021 for further information.


Administrative tasks can take many forms – NHS paperwork, local authority requirements, health and safety regulations, pharmacy professional regulation, compliance with employment law, audits, Government initiatives, and so on. NPA Members have regularly fed back the challenge they face in remembering and coordinating all of the administrative activities they need to undertake and are understandably concerned that they may forget an important task. This ‘Administrative Activity Planner’ has been designed to help members manage this challenge and has been created by studying the requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council, NHS Scotland and other stakeholders. The planner has been put together by looking at the requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council and other key administrative requirements for 2019/2020.


New courses from the NPA


The NPA has launched three new training courses to support the professional development of pharmacy staff. Existing programmes to meet member needs and the challenges of COVID-19 have also been enhanced. The new courses include BTEC Diploma in the


Supporting Excellence: resource for Scottish NPA members


The Supporting Excellence resource pack supports members to look strategically at your own business and plan for the future through


Go to www.npa.co.uk/information- and-guidance/administrative- activity-planner-scotland-2/ to view online. Hard copies of the planner are available on request.


Janice Oman


Scotland Representation Manager


four topics: Quality Improvement, Operating Efficiently, Growing Your Business and You and Your Team. The Supporting Excellence resource pack is available in hard copy and USB by request.


principles and practice for pharmacy technicians, medicines counter and dispensing assistant course and accuracy checking for dispensers.


Upskill staff for better GPhC inspection reports


With the introduction of the pharmacy inspections website, members of the public can easily find information about the pharmacies they use. They can also see how well a pharmacy is performing against five principles which include governance, staff, premises, services and equipment and facilities. The site also features an online ‘knowledge hub’ for the pharmacy team, with examples of excellent, good and poor practice identified through pharmacy inspections. The GPhC analysis shows that investing in staff is a key driver of performance against the standards. The NPA offers flexible learning options to suit training needs. Go to www.npa.co.uk/ learning-and-development for more information, or call me on 07538 192588 to discuss any concerns and how to best prepare for an inspection.


Stories from the NHS frontline


NPA member forum in March


This regular free event provides an opportunity to discuss current Scottish pharmacy practice with other contractors and members of the NPA team. The forums are very popular and there are always lively discussions taking place. It’s a great networking opportunity between NPA members and a useful platform to gain information and discuss what matters to independent community pharmacy. If you would like more information about the next Scottish forum in March, have suggestions for the agenda or would like to register, please email j.oman@npa.co.uk.


We wanted to create a public platform from which pharmacy teams can describe their experiences in their own words.


Overall it makes for a very authentic and compelling story of service and resilience, about which everyone can be proud. To read these stories - and to share your own - go to www.nhsfrontline.com.


NPA published online a collection of stories from pharmacy teams across the country, showcasing the value of community pharmacy during the coronavirus pandemic.


Don’t forget that the NPA offers training programmes for every role within your pharmacy from the delivery driver through to the pharmacy owner. If you have any questions please contact Member Services via email at training@npa.co.uk or telephone 01727 800402.


Pharmacy Coronacasts If you haven’t done so already, make some time to listen to NPA’s podcast series ‘Pharmacy Coronacasts’ – where high profile figures discuss life on the NHS frontline during the coronavirus pandemic.


In episode five, where the theme is ‘Are pharmacies going to go forwards or backwards?’ Leslie McArthur of HolmPharm in Falkirk describes the many positive developments in Scotland. Go to www.soundcloud.com/national- pharmacy-association to listen.


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