Welcome to Community Pharmacy Lincolnshire News

In case you missed it: Guidance for Community pharmacy on delivering substance misuse services

Contractors may be interested in updated guidance on delivery of substance misuse services published by the government on 24th January.  It can be accessed here.

You may also be aware that WithYou will cease to provide the Community Substance Misuse contract in Lincolnshire from April 2024, and Turning Point will be the incoming provider. CPL are in contact with the new provider to support a smooth transition.

Measles Guidance

UKHSA have declared measles as a national incident. Measles is a highly infectious disease that can sometimes lead to serious problems such as pneumonia, meningitis, and on rare occasions, long-term disability or death. It is a vaccine preventable disease and the best way to prevent Measles infection is to have 2 doses of the MMR Vaccine. As off 30/01/2024, UKHSA have been notified of 26 suspected Measles cases in Lincolnshire. Following testing, all 26 were negative. There have been 0 confirmed cases or outbreaks in Lincolnshire to date.

The ICS have produced a briefing for community pharmacies containing links to useful information that can be accessed here.

Community Pharmacies are being asked to:

1. Display posters and other information in public areas to raise awareness of the symptoms of Measles and the importance of the MMR vaccine. (Free hard copies available here: Think Measles Poster for A&E, Walk-in and GP Centres - Health Publications). Posters, Leaflets, Graphics, Links and QR codes provided in “useful links” section.
2. Ensure all staff are aware of the signs and symptoms of Measles and are familiar with the process of managing suspected or confirmed cases in Lincolnshire (patients with symptoms should be asked to isolate at home and phone their GP to discuss, as the GP will notify UKHSA (following the standard process for notifiable diseases) if the definition for possible or probable case is met and will manage accordingly). 
3. Encourage patients with symptoms of Measles to avoid attending a healthcare facility unless advised by a clinician following remote assessment.  
4. If face to face assessment is required, avoid any contact with other patients and direct patient to an isolation room for assessment.  Staff assessing the patient should use respiratory protective equipment (RPE) as advised by NHSE. NHS England » Guidance for risk assessment and infection prevention and control measures for measles in healthcare settings.  
5. Where suspicion is made upon face to face assessment, follow isolation procedures, contact UKHSA as above.  Staff should know that any patients with fever and rash are potentially infectious and take appropriate action to stop onward transmission without delay, including PPE. UKHSA will advise if contact tracing is required.  Ensure appropriate cleaning is carried out following any possible environmental contamination, especially in high traffic areas and high touch points.
6. Patient- facing staff should have documented evidence of 2 doses of the MMR vaccine or have positive antibody tests for measles and rubella, according to national guidance: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7abc09e5274a319e77a5b9/Green-Book-Chapter-12.pdf

Pharmacist Foundation Training Webinar: 7:30pm on 27th February

In January 2021, the GPhC published the revised Standards for the Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists. The first students to graduate against these new learning outcomes will start their foundation training year, previously known as the pre-reg year, in July 2025.

Lincolnshire ICB is providing a drop-in session, hosted by Community Pharmacy Lincolnshire and supported by colleagues from NHS Workforce, Training and Education (formerly Health Education England), for pharmacy contractors considering offering foundation training places next year.

The team will be on hand to answer questions and provide guidance on what this means, and next steps to get involved.

The drop-in session will be held online via Zoom, from 7:30 - 8:30pm on Tuesday 27th February, and can be accessed at

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81340560101

For more information about the changes to Pharmacist Foundation Training, see the links below:

• Implementing the Foundation Pharmacist Training Year 2025/26 | Health Education England (hee.nhs.uk)
• PRP recruitment employer information (hee.nhs.uk)
   

Pharmacy First Webinar for Locums: 29th February

• Overview of Pharmacy First
• Pharmacy First digital developments
• Training opportunities
• Progress to date on Pharmacy First
• Frequently asked questions
• Contacts, resources and networks

Reminder: Pharmacy First ENT Training in Lincolnshire - a few places are remaining

Sunday 25th February 2024, Lincolnshire 

The Integrated Care System and Community Pharmacy Lincolnshire have accessed some non-recurrent funding to put on a single day of ENT Minor Illness training delivered by CPPE to support Pharmacy First for Lincolnshire contractors. 

There will be a morning and afternoon session on Sunday 25th February and the training will be held at Lincolnshire Showground:

Lincolnshire Showground
Grange-de-Lings
Lincoln 
LN2 2NA

View the CPPE promotional leaflet here.

YOU WILL NEED TO BRING ALONG AN OTOSCOPE TO THE TRAINING. MAKE SURE IT HAS BATTERIES IN IT AND YOU HAVE SOME DISPOSABLE TIPS.

Booking a place

To book a place you will need a code from us. To get this you need to send an email entitled 'Pharmacy First Training - Code Request' to info@pharmacylincolnshire.org containing the following information:

• Your name
• Whether you are an employed pharmacist or locum
• Where you work.

Once you have your code you can click here to book your place.

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

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Community Pharmacy Lincolnshire is the name for Lincolnshire Local Pharmaceutical Committee. We are the voice of NHS pharmacies in Lincolnshire.  For further information about the work we do, contact chief.officer@pharmacylincolnshire.org or visit www.pharmacylincolnshire.org