 Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS)
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As mentioned in last Wednesdays Newsletter, GMLPC will begin publishing weekly communication every Monday starting from today to help support contractors achieve this year’s PQS. The GMLPC - PQS schedule has been designed to help contractors achieve the earliest reasonable payment on Thursday 1st October by completing all of the requirements by Friday 5th September. We will be breaking down the 14 required steps of part 1, into manageable activities and provide relevant supporting resources.
This schedule has been created as guidance only, contractors have until the 29th January 2021 to complete all requirements. Please feel free to manage your own schedule as you see fit.
Alternatively, PSNC have also released a checklist, available here, to help you track your progress.
This week we will be focusing on;
1A) Pharmacy Premises Risk Assessment
1B) Social Distancing Measures
7) PPE Provisions.
1A) The contractor has conducted a COVID-19 infection control risk assessment for the pharmacy premises and where risks have been identified, has implemented mitigating actions, e.g. use of physical barriers such as above head height protective screens, where possible and appropriate.
To achieve this criterion please ensure you have completed one of the risk assessments below and ensure you have an up to date copy available.
There are a variety of risk assessment tools that contractors can use to assess their premises and their procedures.
Risk assessment templates and guidance are available from:
For further information and resources on risk assessments please visit the GMLPC COVID-19 Resources page here
1B) The contractor has made reasonable adjustments to maximise social distancing in accordance with the latest government guidance on COVID-19 secure workplaces: Working safely during coronavirus
Following the completion of the risk assessment criteria set out in 1a, please review any risks identified regarding social distancing. Reasonable adjustments will need to be made to ensure your pharmacy is complying with the guidance set out in the Working safely during the coronavirus guide.
To implement this consider keeping evidence, such as, action plans, pictures of any physical changes made in response to the action plan and staff training records.
PSNC has published a risk assessment template that will help pharmacy teams to identify further potential changes which could be made to their pharmacy environment or procedures during the pandemic to increase the safety of staff and patients.
The Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group has developed guidance on the safe use of consultation rooms during the pandemic, to help pharmacy teams consider how they can minimise risk when using them: Safe use of consultation rooms: COVID-19.
7) The contractor has reviewed and adopted, as a minimum, the PPE recommendations for their staff working in the pharmacy.
To complete this criterion pharmacies at a minimum must provide their pharmacy team with Fluid-resistant (Type IIR) surgical masks when they will be working in an area with possible or confirmed case(s) and unable to maintain 2 metres social distance. However, we would encourage pharmacies to implement as many recommendations as they deem necessary to protect their staff and patients. e.g. disposable gloves, disposable plastic apron and disposable fluid-repellent coverall/gown.
PSNC have compiled a large number of resources and information on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect workers during the COVID-19 pandemic on a dedicated page. Available here
The page covers topics such as;
- Use of PPE in community pharmacies
- Supplies of PPE to community pharmacies
- Expiry dates of PHE provided PPE
- NHSE&I/PHE updates on PPE
- Installing protective screens in pharmacies
- Social Distancing and Infection Control Risk Review
- Facemasks and face coverings
GMLPC and Bolton LPC have been working to access PPE for contractors locally in Greater Manchester. We would advise contractors to take the following steps to access PPE:
- Please contact your wholesaler in the first instance.
- If you cannot get PPE from your wholesaler, please complete the following form.
- As a final resort, an urgent request can be made via the national NSDR helpline by telephoning 0800 915 9964.
For further information click here
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Locality Specific COVID-19 Updates
GMLPC has created a locality specific update page. These updates contain important information for community pharmacy teams about the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click here for more information.
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PSNC Update
Daily Update - 17/07/2020 - Click here
Summary of the update
- Reminder: NHSBSA staff risk assessment survey
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