Community pharmacy funding 2018/19 & GMLPC response
PSNC has now announced details of the community pharmacy funding settlement it has agreed with the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) for 2018/19. You can read about the settlement here, but the key points are:
- Overall funding will remain at the same level as 2017/18, i.e. no increase but also no reduction. (The DHSC's initial proposal involved a £33m funding cut.)
- The Single Activity Fee will change to £1.26 from November.
- Category M prices will reduce by £10m per month from November until the end of March 2019, i.e. the ‘pause’ on Cat M reductions is ending but it is not going back to the previous £15m per month reduction.
- PSNC now hopes to begin constructive negotiations with DHSC on the funding settlement for 2019/20 and beyond, recognising the value of community pharmacies and exploring ideas about the role that pharmacies can play in delivering the NHS's long-term plans.
GMLPC Chair Aneet Kapoor has expressed disappointment at the lack of additional funding and the return of Cat M clawback, while also stressing the need for a new fit-for-purpose funding model for future years, based on pharmacy services and recognising the real costs and challenges facing pharmacies. He has also highlighted the importance of pharmacies sharing information about shortages and pricing issues to build an evidence base for negotiations. Read Aneet’s response here.
NHS England announces national community pharmacy clinical audit
NHS England has now announced the national mandatory clinical audit that all community pharmacies need to complete by the end of March 2019. The audit focuses on the provision of flu vaccination advice for people with diabetes, and the audit standard is:
“70% of people with diabetes identified by the pharmacy staff during the dispensing of a prescription or in another way, are offered public health advice on the importance of them receiving a flu vaccination”.
Pharmacies need to collect data on a minimum of 10 patients. You will need to complete the audit by 16th December and should conduct it over a period of one week, or longer if required to meet the minimum of 10 patients per pharmacy. NHS England is particularly interested in the public health advice offered to people with diabetes to explain why they should have the flu vaccination, and the reasons some people with diabetes are not vaccinated. You can read more about the national audit requirements and access the paperwork on the PSNC website here.
As well as completing this national audit, community pharmacies also need to complete their own clinical audit before the end of March 2019. Pharmacies can choose the topic of that audit themselves.
Branded generics - please send your examples
GMLPC has been working with commissioners across Greater Manchester to raise awareness of the difficulties that branded generics can pose for community pharmacies. This includes the fact that it means pharmacies often have to hold duplicate/multiple stock to meet the requirements of different commissioners, like the examples below.
We are very keen to hear about any issues that branded generics are causing in YOUR pharmacy to help us highlight the risks to commissioners and achieve consensus on a standard approach across Greater Manchester. Send your examples to enquiries@gmlpc.org.uk.
 
Thank-you for collaborative working on flu vaccinations
GMLPC attends the flu meetings across Greater Manchester so we can brief commissioners on progress with flu vaccinations in community pharmacies, any issues you are facing, and how they are being addressed. We want to pass on a massive thank-you from GMLPC and from the commissioners for the collaborative way you have been working with your local GP practices. We know how challenging this flu season has been, and just wanted to make sure you know that your hard work and the effort you have put in to working collaboratively with GP practices has been noticed and appreciated.
aTIV leaflet for people asked to return when vaccine available
Pharmacy teams may find this leaflet helpful for people aged 65+ when you have to ask them to return to the pharmacy when aTIV is available. The leaflet has been produced by PSNC and explains why it is important that they receive the correct flu vaccine for their age group.
Do you want HLP Health Champions training?
We are considering arranging HLP Health Champions training in December and are keen to gauge the level of interest before we book anything, so would be grateful if all pharmacies could complete this very short survey. This training would be for pharmacy staff who are NOT already Health Champions. It would involve a two-day training course to enable staff to become qualified Health Champions, helping you meet the requirements for Healthy Living Pharmacy Level 1. Please complete this very short survey to let us know if your pharmacy would be interested in training.
Improving Inhaler Technique through Community Pharmacy Service:
Expression of Interest for new providers
We are now inviting Expressions of Interest to recruit an additional 50 pharmacies across Greater Manchester to provide ‘The Improving Inhaler Technique through Community Pharmacy’ Service. If you would like to be considered, please complete this expression of interest form by Friday 26th October 2018 (extended from Wed 24th October). For more information, please read this letter. Note: Pharmacies that are currently commissioned to provide this service are not required to resubmit an expression of interest.
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Key dates for your pharmacy: Training & events
Make sure you read the Training & Events section further down in this newsletter for details of our next events, including:
- Optimising MUR Delivery (29th Oct)
- Managing eye conditions in community pharmacy (30th Oct)
- Integrated ways of working with GP practices (7th & 28th Nov)
- FMD, Quality Payments and the Data Security & Protection Toolkit (22nd Nov)
CAS alert: Valproate update for pharmacists
The MHRA has issued a reminder letter to all pharmacists, including those practising in the community, about the valproate pregnancy prevention programme. You can access the letter here. It is important that all pharmacists read it and make sure their teams are also aware of the guidance.
CAS alert: Epanutin (phenytoin) 30mg/5ml out of stock
Pfizer has advised that it will be out of stock of Epanutin (phenytoin) 30mg/5ml oral suspension from 29 th October until early December. You can read more about the alert and the associated guidance here.
Reminder of urgent change to EpiPen guidance
Congratulations to local independent pharmacy
Congratulations to Ken Agravat of Pharmaco Chemists in Openshaw, Manchester, who was Highly Commended in the Pharmacy Innovation of the Year category of this year’s Independent Pharmacy Awards. A full report will appear in the November issue of Independent Community Pharmacist, but in the meantime you can read a summary here. |
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FMD: Make sure your pharmacy is ready
15 weeks to go
The Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) comes into effect across Europe on 9 th February 2018 and community pharmacies need to be prepared. Don’t forget to book onto our FMD briefing event on Thursday 22nd November, with Raj Patel – Chair of the UK FMD Working Group for Community Pharmacy. Raj will explain what FMD means for pharmacies and what you need to do to comply, and will also be happy to answer any questions you have.
In the meantime, SecurMed UK registration is expected to open shortly for community pharmacies, so you will be able to make sure your pharmacy is connected to the National Medicines Verification System. We’ve also created a short FMD briefing that explains the key requirements on two sides of A4 and a dedicated webpage where you’ll be able to find all our guidance and other useful links. FMD: Send us your questions for Raj Patel
We’re keen to get all your questions about the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD), both to help us plan the FMD briefings and support we provide and so we can make sure we put them to Raj Patel – Chair of the UK FMD Working Group for Community Pharmacy – at our briefing event on 22 nd November. Send us your queries and questions about FMD by emailing enquiries@gmlpc.org.uk, using the subject header ‘FMD: Questions for Raj’. Work opportunities at GMLPC: Projects & interim roles
We have a number of exciting projects coming up as part of the four major workstreams in our strategy for supporting GMLPC contractors and community pharmacies. We’re looking for people who would be interested in working for us on specific projects on an interim / fixed-term basis, both now and in the future.
The skillsets we’re looking for could vary depending on the particular project or role, but may include:
- Experience of community pharmacy
- Experience of managing / working on projects
- Experience of supporting pharmacy teams
The work would be ideally suited to people who have previous experience with LPCs, although this is not essential. If you’re interested in being involved, or would like to find out more, please send a covering letter (detailing your areas of interest) and your CV (incl skillset) to enquiries@gmlpc.org.uk.
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Locality news: what's happening in your area
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Bury: Training available on personality types
Bury CCG is offering free training for community pharmacists to help them understand personality types and use this knowledge and insight in their clinical practice, as well as in their own management and leadership practices. Understanding different personality types can help clinicians frame conversations and engage patients/team members differently. Lunch will be provided. The training is at Annara House in Radcliffe on Wednesday 7th November. This flyer explains more. You can book via this link.
Manchester: Prescribing switches to note
Manchester Health and Care Commissioning are due to start switching two products. They will not be starting this for at least four weeks, but we would urge you to consider your stockholding in light of this information.
Both new products should be available through main wholesalers. The switches are:
- All branded and generic Oxycodone PR to Oxeltra PR
- Generic and Glucophage SR to Yaltormin SR
Wigan: Information about new sexual health service provider
Wigan and Leigh commissioners have issued some information for community pharmacies and other healthcare staff about the borough’s new sexual health services provider. The guidance includes details of how people can access the services provided across Wigan and Leigh. The new provider, Spectrum, also plans to set up a forum for health professionals and is consulting at the moment to get your views on how it should work. Read more about the new services & forum consultation here.
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GMLPC, GM Healthcare Academy & CHL training and events:
Optimising MUR Delivery: 29th October
GM Healthcare Academy is running a workshop this month to help pharmacy teams to be more effective in delivering Medicines Use Reviews (MURS) and offering consistently high-quality patient care.
The workshop is open to pharmacists (including pre-reg) and pharmacy team members and will equip you to simplify your MUR process, understand why MURs are so important and how they benefit patients, consider approaches to engaging patients, take a patient-centred approach when delivering MURs, construct an action plan for your pharmacy, and much more.
The event starts with registration and a light buffet at 6.30pm, followed by training from 7pm-9pm.
Book now! Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) event on 22nd Nov
FMD, Quality Payments & IG: Everything you need to know
This is a unique opportunity to learn, understand and prepare your action plan to comply with FMD. The event is open to all Greater Manchester community pharmacy contractors and is designed to simplify all the noise and bring you the essential information.
The event will also include an update on Quality Payments and a briefing on the new NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit, which has replaced the IG Toolkit and which has to be completed by 31st March 2019. Book your place now!
- ‘FMD, Quality Payments & IG: Everything you need to know’. Thursday 22nd November at the AJ Bell Stadium, 1 Stadium Way, Barton-upon-Irwell, M30 7EY. (Sat Nav should use M30 7LJ) Registration & refreshments 6.30pm; training 7pm. Don’t miss out! Book now!
Integrated Working with GPs: November events
Book your free place now!
We know that the closest inter-professional relationships community pharmacies have are with GPs. Can we work better with GPs and other primary care colleagues, such as practice-based pharmacists, to maximise patient care and improve our businesses? We believe so! Book your place on an interactive workshop as follows:
- Wed 7th Nov: Red Hall Hotel, Bury, BL9 5NA (6.30pm-9.30pm). Book now.
- 28th Nov: AJ Bell Stadium, M30 7EY (6.30pm-9.30pm). Book now.
Agenda:
6.30pm – 7.00pm Registration and networking
Followed by sessions on:
- Why we need to work with our primary care colleagues
- An example of a joint project
- What GPs want from community pharmacists
- What practice pharmacists want from community pharmacists
- What community pharmacists want from primary care colleagues
- How we can work together to maximise the benefits from the changes to quality payments
- Future-proofing
External training & events:
CPPE: Medicines, people & value online learning campaign
CPPE has just launched a four-week online learning campaign (from 22 nd October) to help registered pharmacy professionals understand more about the NHS England Medicines Value programme. Over the four weeks, participants will learn more about the role of pharmacies in medicines value, medicines waste, falls prevention, and antimicrobial stewardship. You can access the campaign here.
PSNC Funding webinar: 30th October
PSNC is running a webinar about the 2018/19 funding settlement with Department of Health & Social Care on 30 th October. Find out more and register.
PSNC FMD webinar: 7th November
Prof Peter Noyce Memorial Lecture: 7th November
The University of Manchester is holding the second annual Memorial Lecture for Prof Peter Noyce CBE on 7 th November (5.30pm-7.30pm). The lecture will be delivered by Prof Nick Barber, Emeritus Professor of Pharmacy at UCL, and the topic is the eupharmic patient: a new goal for pharmacy. Find out more and register. Pharmacy technicians in community pharmacies in Greater Manchester can now apply for free Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) training from CPPE. Find out more, including how to apply.
You can also apply for a free place on the Mary Seacole Leadership Programme for Community Pharmacy, a six-month programme delivered mostly online but with three face-to-face workshops. Find out more and apply.
CPPE: Greater Manchester events
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