Welcome to Community Pharmacy Lincolnshire News

National Patient Safety Alert -  Steroid Emergency Cards

The National Patient Safety Alert (NPSA) referred to below introduced an updated Steroid Emergency Card for all practitioners, and so pharmacies should be using the new red card now. Some pharmacies may still be using the older, blue card in the absence of the newer cards if a patient has nothing, but these are now obsolete, and as far as we are aware, replacement stocks are not available.
 
For your information, the NSPA states that the Steroid Emergency Cards should be issued by prescribers, and that pharmacies should have access to stocks to replace these for patients if they are lost or damaged. Pharmacies (like GP practices and hospitals) can source these from NHSBSA or PCSE:

• NHS Forms at NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) http://www.nhsforms.co.uk/
• Primary Care Support England (PCSE online) https://secure.pcse.england.nhs.uk/_forms/pcsssignin.aspx

Unplanned Pharmacy Closures: Please use Annex 14

**A downloadable poster with a summary of the details below can be downloaded here to print and place on your staff noticeboard in the pharmacy for easy reference**

If you are unable to provide pharmaceutical services, for any reason, you must ensure that your Unplanned Closure procedure is followed, and that the regional NHSE&I team is notified of any time the pharmacy is closed. This may include situations such as fire, flood, electrical failure, building safety issues or sickness of the responsible pharmacist or pharmacy team.

You should include details of

• When the pharmacy was or is closed
• The reasons for closure
• When the pharmacy did, or is likely to be able to reopen
• Actions taken to manage patient need (such as uncollected prescriptions, substance dependency clients etc.)

Registering and informing NHSE&I of closures

When a Pharmacy is unable to provide Pharmaceutical services, for any reason, unplanned temporary suspension of services must be reported to the NHSEI regional Pharmacy Contracting team (via england.eastmidspharmacy@nhs.net) as soon as  you are aware of the need to close or suspend your services.

Annex 14 should be used to inform NHSEI regional team of closures, it can be downloaded here: pharmacy-manual-annex-14-unplanned-temporary-suspension-of-services (1)

Please also copy in

• info@pharmacylincolnshire.org so that we can support you, and
• the CCG at  lccg.primarycarelincs@nhs.net so that they can inform local General Practices

The person completing the is to include as much information as possible about the closure; the reason for it, the actions taken by the Pharmacy to mitigate the situation and an expected return to full service provision (if still affected at the time of notification). The closure is recorded by the NHSEI Pharmacy Contracting team.

The Nightlight Cafe: Mental Health Support

Nightlight Cafes Timetable in Lincoln

Nightlight Cafes Timetable in Towns across Lincolnshire Outside Lincoln

To make a referral for support from one of the cafes, please use the appropriate form following this link: https://forms.gle/g4dcUKtNK1BMGw6K9

The project is changing lives and providing an incredible service to the community.  Throughout 2021 there were over 1500 visits to the cafes from people in need of mental health support. One guest recently shared ‘When I thought I had no one, you were there for me. You got me through a crisis and I am so grateful for the support.’

For more information, guests can call the Night Light Cafe on 0300 011 1200 or see our Facebook page @nightlightcafelincoln. 

Nightlight are keen to get some posters put up in pharmacies located in the towns where the cafes are operating.  If you would like a hard copy poster to display in your pharmacy, or if you have any other questions, please contact stacey@actstrust.org.uk 

CPPE Events to support your practice

CPPE have several online workshops aimed at supporting pharmacy professionals with their current practice. Two we think might be of particular interest are:

• Type 2 Diabetes - Supporting People Better Focal Point
  
  This online workshop uses the latest NICE guidance to support you to update your knowledge of the management of type 2 diabetes, and help your patients to better manage this condition, including reducing complications and improving outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes. There are several workshops available in July and beyond - click on the link above and choose your preferred date.
   
• Health Inequalities - Focus On Vaccine Hesitancy Optimise
  
  As we approach winter vaccine season, this online workshop will equip pharmacy professionals with the knowledge and understanding required to approach the potentially challenging conversations around vaccine hesitancy in a constructive way. Again, there are several workshops available in July and beyond - click on the link above and choose your preferred date.