Community Pharmacy Devon Weekly Dose

Thursday 20th March 2025

Welcome to your weekly injection of local and national pharmacy news. As always, if you have any feedback or comments, please contact us by email at admin@cpdevon.org.uk.

Change in Nationally Preferred DOAC

As you will be aware the most recent NHSE DOAC commissioning guidance (here) lists generic apixaban as the most cost-effective twice daily DOAC, and generic rivaroxaban the most cost-effective once a day treatment. Edoxaban is now a second line DOAC, to be considered after generic apixaban and generic rivaroxaban.

The ICB MO team are asking practices to review patients prescribed edoxaban, and where clinically appropriate for the patient, practices are requested to change their prescription and prescribe generic apixaban or generic rivaroxaban in its place, where the patient’s clinical indication allows.

We wanted to share this activity with you to give you the opportunity to manage your stock-holding of DOAC medications, as necessary, and so that you can provide support, when required (which may be in the form of the NHS New Medicines Service), to patients where a change is made to their medication.

Contraception Workshop - 25th March

The Contraception and Hypertension services will be bundled into Pharmacy First as of March 31st 2025. All Contractors MUST be signed up to offer all three services to be eligible to receive the threshold payment. Initiating Contraception for the first time may appear daunting but don't worry as CPPE have a programme especially for you.

Book here to attend this training session at Boringdon Park Golf Club on March 25th, 6pm -7pm, hot food will be provided. Please note this is the ONLY CPPE contraception workshop happening in Plymouth.

Estradot® SSPs extended

The Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Estradot®50micrograms/24hours patches (SSP079), Estradot® 75micrograms/24hours patches (SSP080) and Estradot® 100micrograms/24hours patches (SSP081) are all being further extended to Friday 4th April 2025.

Please remember that SSPs are a potential way to help pharmacies to manage any serious shortages of medicines that may occur, without needing to refer patients back to prescribers. It is important to note that an SSP will only be considered and issued if there is a serious shortage of a specific medicine.

The SSP will specify an alternative product or quantity that may be supplied (an alternative strength or formulation, or generic or therapeutic alternative or less of the product) by community pharmacies. Community pharmacy contractors must consider the SSP and, if, in the supervising pharmacist’s opinion – exercising his or her professional skill and judgment – the alternative product or quantity is reasonable and appropriate for the patient, they may supply the alternative product or quantity (only as specified in the SSP and subject to any conditions in the SSP), provided that the patient consents/agrees to the alternative SSP supply. Read more here.

Hypertension Top Tips!

When discussing ambulatory monitoring with patients, it's important to use clear, reassuring language to help them understand the process and feel comfortable.

You might begin by explaining the reason for the monitoring, such as, "Your recent reading was slightly raised, so we need to get a more complete picture of your blood pressure over a 24-hour period." Then, introduce the monitoring process in a simple way: "To do this, we’ll use an ambulatory blood pressure monitor, which you’ll wear for the next 24 hours. The cuff will automatically inflate and deflate at regular intervals to take readings throughout the day and night”

Reassure the patient by addressing any concerns they may have, emphasizing that the device is designed to be as unobtrusive as possible and will provide valuable information to guide their care.

Avoid phrases like "Would you mind" or "Is that okay?" as they may give patients the impression that this step is optional when it is an important part of their care. Instead, use clear and confident language to explain the necessity of the monitoring.

Plymouth Wellbeing Hub Network

The vision of the wellbeing hub network is to provide a network of integrated resources to enable and support people in their local community to live independently and make life choices that will improve their health and wellbeing.

The wellbeing hubs aims:

Ensure fair access to health and wellbeing support
Improve communities experience of health and care systems
Improve health and wellbeing through integrated, community-focused services
Build a greater sense of community

What we offer:

Social and physical activities
Welfare, benefits and cost of living advice
Opportunities to volunteer
Befriending
Mental Health support
Signposting and referral services

Targeted services available within the network:

Family and parenting provision
Disability support
Healthy eating and food access initiatives
Veteran support
Long term health conditions support
Carer’s support

How to access our support:

Contact any of the wellbeing hubs within the network through the website Plymouth Wellbeing Hub Network
Walk into any of the wellbeing hubs to receive face to face support.