Thread by @pcpa_org

“Working collaboratively in an ICS: freeing up opportunities in community pharmacy”

- a thread highlighting the publication of the joint @NHSConfed @NPA1921 & @pcpa_org round table paper

#PCNNetwork #OneProfession #CommunityPharmacy #PCN #ICS

nhsconfed.org/sites/default/…

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Community pharmacy is an integral part of the NHS and has a vital role to play as a full partner within a primary care network (PCN).

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Medicines’ safety and optimisation are widely recognised as part of its unique skill set but, increasingly, community pharmacy is collaborating with partners in primary care to deliver integrated clinical services in integrated care systems (ICSs).

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In July 2021, leaders from leading pharmacy representative bodies, GP federations and PCNs took part in a roundtable discussion to highlight the opportunities that working collaboratively in an ICS has to offer, and to discuss solutions to current barriers.

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Participants identified seven key requirements to ensure that the opportunities and benefits of involving community pharmacy are realised. These requirements are relevant to: NHS leaders developing and implementing ICS guidance;

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community pharmacists who want to play their part in shaping new ways
of working; partners working in general practice and in GP federations; and existing leaders in ICSs and PCNs.

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1. Community pharmacists must be given the time and space to get involved in working through the development of local services with their primary care colleagues.

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2. Community pharmacy and general practice need to work through the historical perceptions of their relationship as providers, moving from a position of competition to one of collaboration and a single voice for primary care.

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3. To achieve change at scale,service developments must be translated into a national contract specification for local adoption with the ability for some local flexibility to be applied to meet the specific needs of a local population.

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4. Nationally specified services should be properly resourced, recognising that commercial viability is a valid request by contractors in the NHS.

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5. ICSs must support the implementation of nationally specified services, locally ensuring there is project management, IT deployment and system-level governance and oversight for implementation.

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This should be backed up with appropriate mechanisms to involve community pharmacy in decision-making at all levels and resources available to enable this.

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6. An appropriate information technology and information governance framework is needed to support data sharing and facilitate the development of local services and the implementation of national services.

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7. An appropriate medico/legal framework is needed which recognises the role of pharmacists as independent prescribers and resolves issues relating to conflicts of interest.

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Viewpoint :
Community pharmacy has a unique role to play in collaborating with its partners across an ICS to support the restoration of core services and the delivery of local priorities.

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It offers a combination of leadership of the medicines’ safety & optimisation agenda, with clear benefits of improved patient safety & reduced NHS spend, & an ability to deliver clinical services that reduce workload for primary care partners & increase patient access.

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However, at a time of rapid change and exceptional challenge for the NHS and its partners, there is risk that the impact community pharmacy could deliver will be constrained by a number of barriers that are present in the current system.

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The roundtable discussion highlighted these barriers and most importantly identified seven key tasks for national and local leaders to address to ensure that they are addressed in the emerging development of ICSs.

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Fundamental to all of them is a need to enable community pharmacy to play an active part in decision- making at all levels of the ICS and become integral to its clinical and professional leadership.
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“Much needed opportunity for a sustainable inclusive system approach to provide better care and services for our local communities” @HPILLminster, @pcpa_org NVP on the @NHSConfed, @NPA1921 joint Collaboration paper

pcpa.co/WCinICS

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“Community pharmacies are the most accessible health providers… Integrating Community Pharmacy into the ICS is essential to support improvements in patient outcomes whilst tackling inequalities & preventing ill health.” @luvjitkandula, Community Pharmacy Integration Lead

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