Thursday 1th September 2024                   

Due to popular demand, we at Community Pharmacy Devon have decided to review our communications and bring you a weekly digest that will provide a brief overview of weekly activity.

As always, if you have any feedback or comments, please contact us by email at admin@cpdevon.org.uk.

NHS Devon ICB is looking to recruit a Community Pharmacy Primary Care Network (PCN) Engagement Lead for the Devon system, to support the delivery of the community pharmacy programme of work within the Primary Care Access & Recovery Plan (PCARP).

The purpose of this role is to work with the Devon Community Pharmacy PCN Integration Lead Network to support the development of meaningful and collaborative engagement with the nationally commissioned community pharmacy services,  with a focus on collaboration between general practice and community pharmacy in Devon.

The closing date is the 2nd October 2024. Apply here for this vacancy.

This is the fourth of a series of articles to tackle some of the misconceptions around Pharmacy First. The articles will cover a variety of aspects of Pharmacy First and aims to myth bust, to increase understanding of the service.

Patients with only certain minor illnesses can be electronically referred for the minor illness strand of Pharmacy First.

Wrong! While the service specification does include a list of minor illness symptom groups identified for referral to a community pharmacist for the minor illness strand of the service; it is important to note that this list is not exhaustive.

Therefore, if an electronic referral is received for a minor illness that is not included in the list, for example, a verruca or chickenpox, this is not a reason to reject the referral and these patients can be seen under the Minor illness strand of the service.

Minor illness consultations are no longer a part of Pharmacy First.

Wrong! The minor illness strand of the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) remained when the service became Pharmacy First. Therefore, GPs can still refer patients for a minor illness consultation with a pharmacist, as was the case for CPCS.

I can provide clinical pathway consultations remotely via telephone.

Wrong! Where it is clinically appropriate to do so, minor illness consultations (referrals) and urgent medicines supply consultations (referrals) can be undertaken via telephone/audio or video consultation by a pharmacist who is on the pharmacy premises.

Similarly, where it is safe to do so, clinical pathways consultations can be conducted via good quality video consultation by a pharmacist who is on the pharmacy premises. However, remote clinical pathways consultations can only be provided via a good quality video consultation – they cannot be provided by a telephone/audio consultation.

I can supply a patient with an OTC medicine as part of a minor illness consultation.

Wrong! The outcome of referrals received in relation to low acuity conditions / minor illness may include giving self-care advice and support, the sale of OTC medicines, referral to locally commissioned pharmacy services, referral to the patient’s GP or relevant GP OOH service, or general signposting to other appropriate services (including other health professionals). Therefore, patients may have to purchase an OTC medicine if no locally commissioned minor ailments service exists.

View the first article on Pharmacy First myth busting

View the second article on Pharmacy First myth busting

View the third article on Pharmacy First myth busting

The FSRH (The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare) are hosting a webinar on Tuesday 8 October 2024. This free webinar will provide pharmacy professionals with a valuable clinical update on Emergency Contraception and will contribute to Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Additionally, this event will showcase their upcoming ‘Essentials of Contraception for Pharmacy Professionals’, which is a must-attend course for all pharmacy professionals looking to advance their contraceptive knowledge and skills.

You will also learn more about the resources and support available to pharmacy professionals from the FSRH. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your practice, gain CPD, and contribute to improving access to essential contraception services.

Register for free here to secure your spot!

Jackie Lewis, local pharmacist at Lewis Pharmacy in Exmouth, along with colleagues from Australia and Canada, has launched a new international survey which looks at cancer training requirements in the community pharmacy workforce.

The purpose of the survey is to gain an understanding of the perceptions of community pharmacy staff towards the provision of cancer care in the community and what they see as the barriers to providing optimum care to patients with, or at risk of, cancer. The findings of this research will enable the development of targeted resources to support community pharmacy teams in caring for patients with cancer.

All members of community pharmacy teams are invited and encouraged to participate. This includes pharmacists, pharmacy/dispensary technicians, and pharmacy assistants/medicines counter assistants.

View the flyer here.

The survey is open from the 9th September through to the 9th December 2024 and takes approximately 7-10 mins to fill in. Click here to complete it.

A massive congratulations to Pinhoe Pharmacy in Exeter, who have been named as a finalist in this year's prestigious  Independent Pharmacy Awards in the category of Pharmacy Team of the Year!

The Independent Pharmacy Awards will be taking place on the 27th September at the House of Commons and will highlight and celebrate the brilliance and endurance of community pharmacy teams across the UK.

Congratulations to the whole team working at Pinhoe Pharmacy - we'll be keeping our fingers crossed for you on the night!

If you have a positive news story to share with us please send it to admin@cpdevon.org.uk and it will be featured in an upcoming edition of the review. If featured, you will also win a surprise gift for you and your team up to the value of £25!

Click the name you need to email them directly: