A summary of what you need to know from the past week
A bumper edition this week, as lots has been happening in the world of pharmacy. Grab yourself a coffee and take a few minutes to read through the key information below.
For November we suggest completing the learning and action planning for:
Infection prevention and control
Antimicrobial Stewarship
And then focusing onthe learning for:
Obesity
Remember, you can download the Community Pharmacy Lincolnshire PQS Part 2 Training Summary to support you and your team; this contains direct links to, and key information about the required training.
The new SOP highlights the option for the local NHSE&I team to waive the need for pharmacies to apply to work behind closed doors. However, at the current time the local NHSE&I team have clarified that they have not issued any such waiver and therefore should you wish for your pharmacy to work behind closed doors you will need to apply to the local team for this.
Managing cases and outbreaks
As well as amendments to the Community Pharmacy SOP, there have been some minor changes to the instructions for managing cases (one person) and outbreaks (two or more people). These were recently sent to pharmacies' NHS mail accounts by the local NHSE&I team, but we have added this information to the Community Pharmacy Lincolnshire website, alongside an updated checklist to support you and your teams. You can view this at:
As we consider the impact of a second lockdown and the rise in COVID-19 cases, please ensure that you have a robust business continuity plan in place.
This should consider elements such as management of prescriptions that have been dispensed and/or downloaded from the NHS spine and continued service delivery, such as methadone supervision. It must also include details of who you need to notify (such as the local NHSE&I team, Drug and Alcohol teams and local surgeries) You may also wish to identify a 'buddy pharmacy' or other appropriate support options, in line with any company policies.
PSNC have a webpage dedicated to Emergency And Business Continuity to support you; remember that this forms part of clinical governance as an essential service, and also part of the current PQS approach.
As part of the new national restrictions in England, the Government has advised people who are extremely clinically vulnerabel not to go to a pharmacy. As such the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has decided to restart the Pandemic Delivery Service.
This restarted yesterday (5th November) and will run until 3rd December 2020 across the whole of England.
Two new clinically vulnerable groups were recently added:
Adults with Stage 5 chronic kidney disease
Adults with Down's Syndrome
For more information on the Pandemic Delivery Service, visit the PSNC webpage at
From 1st November the NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) is being extended across England to include referrals from general practices as well as from NHS 111.
This will be a gradual process as GP practices are engaged in the referral process. Community Pharmacy Lincolnshire will be working with stakeholders across Lincolnshire, including the CCG, STP and Local Medical Committee to provide information and support the implementation of this aspect of the current service.
Pharmacies who already provide CPCS don't need to register to provide this, as this GP referrals is simply an extension of the current Advanced service.
You may be approached by local GPs asking about this service. Please make sure that you and your team are familiar with the proposed changes so that you can have a brief discussion, but we'd ask that you signpost them to us at Community Pharmacy Lincolnshire so that we can register their interest and discuss implementation appropriately. They can contact us via email at info@pharmacylincolnshire.org
For more information on GP referral to CPCS, visit the PSNC webpage at
If you are interested in being a PCN lead in one of these locations, get in touch using the email address below.
CPCS Urgent Medicines Supply and Controlled Drugs
Remember that if supplying schedule 4 and 5 CDs via the CPCS Urgent Medicines Supply advanced service, the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 only permit a maximum supply of 5 days' medication. Schedule 2 and 3 CDs cannot be supplied
Research and Studies
We've recently added a page to our website highlighting important local studies and research in which you and your team may wish to be involved. These typically involve recruitment of patients through posters and discussion. The two key studies relevant at the moment include:
The Lincolnshire Poacher Study: A trial looking at new ways to manage and diagnose IBS
PRINCIPLE: a trial looking to find treatments that improve symptoms and reduce hospital admissions for people with COVID-19
Community Pharmacy Lincolnshire are continuing to update and refresh our website. Let us know if there are any specific things you'd like to see, You can email us at info@pharmacylincolnshire.org
Remember, you can also contact us using info@pharmacylincolnshire.org with any questions, queries or feedback you may have.
