Thursday 12th 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.

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

Please note that following on from the changes to the needle kits earlier in the year, the standard option from Pharmoutcomes will be deactivated as of the 31st September 2024.

In January pharmacists were asked to run down their existing equipment stocks of the standard packs, so that from 1st February, the new single kits were being distributed and the old larger packs were phased out. The majority of stores have managed to do this.

We are now at the stage where the residual standard packs in pharmacies are minimal and therefore the 'standard pack' service will be removed from PharmOutcomes effective from 31st September 2024. Any remaining stock of the old standard kit will need to be disposed of through the most appropriate route.

If this will cause any issues please send an email to publicheath@torbay.gov.uk.

Venn Health has organised a series of interactive training sessions to help you deliver care for minor illness and long-term conditions. These sessions will be delivered by local clinicians working in primary care including community pharmacy, and the University of Exeter MSc Clinical Pharmacy program. 

Please note that AllStar® Pro pens are currently subject to prescription validation. As a result, they can only be ordered against a valid prescription for a named patient. This does not impact the ability to prescribe AllStar® Pro pens for patients who require insulin cartridges compatible with these pens. 

The Devon formulary promotes safe, effective and economic prescribing across primary and secondary care in Devon. Monthly updates to the formulary can be found here: South & West.

While generic prescribing is generally encouraged, there are some circumstances where prescribing by brand is recommended. The list of preferred brands for prescribing can be found on the One Devon website.

NHS Devon works closely with general practices to support formulary adherence where possible, however this will vary by practice.

You should have all received an email from NHS England with a document informing you of the phased early release programme that has recently passed through parliament. There will be an increased need to support people with opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) i.e., Methadone and Buprenorphine and to meet the drug and alcohol support needs of people leaving custody on the 10th September and 22nd October.  

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!

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