P-Z

Click on a heading below for more information. 

Palliative Care Scheme

This service is aimed at the supply of Emergency Palliative Care medicines, the demand for which may be urgent and/or unpredictable.

The pharmacy contractor will stock a locally agreed range of Emergency Palliative Care medicines and will make a commitment to ensure that users of this service have prompt access to these medicines during the pharmacy’s regular core and supplementary hours.

For more information

Contact: lpc@communitypharmacyss.co.uk 

Paracetamol - updated Wednesday 18 March 2020 at 13.22

COVID-19: This entry is reviewed regularly and updated as required 

Surrey and Sussex LPCs are aware of the stock fulfilment problems that community pharmacy contractors are experiencing, which is making OTC requests challenging to manage.

In the interim, patients should not be advised to order paracetamol from the GP unless it is part of a repeat prescription for a long-term condition, which is due to for renewal. Wholesalers are working hard on more rapid fulfilment.

For more information

    • Email us at lpc@communitypharmacyss.co.uk. 

PPE - personal protective equipment - last updated 13 October 2020

COVID-19: This entry is reviewed regularly and updated as required (updated: 24 March 2020; 25 May 2020;  3 August 2020; 13 October 2020; 17 November 2020)

The national PPE portal was set up early in the Coronavirus crisis. It has changed from emergency support and is now available to provide ALL Covid related PPE, free-of-charge to primary care. Contractors will need to register with the portal in order to use it.  

      1. All contractors should now be registered on the Gov’s PPE Dedicated Supply Channel having had a n email in October from ppe.dedicated.supply.channel@notifications.service.gov.uk  (please note this email address does not accept incoming emails).  If a contractor cannot find this email or is having any difficulties in registering they should contact the portal customer service team on 0800 876 6802.
      2. Prompt registration will ensure that pharmacies can order their full supply of Covid related PPE from a central inventory. Order limits have been set according to patient activity levels but if any provider feels their limit is incorrect then they can contact the portal customer service team on 0800 876 6802.
        • Orders through the portal should arrive within 48 hours if placed before 1pm. Orders placed after 1pm will be subject to an additional 24-hours. Information on what items are available for your sector and size are available on the DHSC guidance page here 

Queries and/or more information

    1. (added 17/11/20) PPE Portal – some common user questions If you have questions about when you can place your next order or why items are showing out of stock or any other queries, please see the PPE portal FAQs. They can be found by logging into www.nhs-ppe.co.uk and scrolling to the bottom and selecting help/FAQ. If you have any concerns that aren’t answered in these, please do get in touch with the customer service team on 0800 876 6802. The team is available from 7am to 7pm, 7 days a week.
    2. All other queries and questions please email us at lpc@communitypharmacyss.co.uk. 

Primary care networks (PCNs)

NHS England has significant ambitions for primary care networks (PCNs), with the expectation that they will be a key vehicle for delivering many of the commitments in the long-term plan and providing a wider range of services to patients.

They will eventually be required to deliver a set of seven national service specifications. Five will start by April 2020: structured medication reviews, enhanced health in care homes, anticipatory care (with community services), personalised care and supporting early cancer diagnosis. The remaining two will start by 2021: cardiovascular disease case-finding and locally agreed action to tackle inequalities.

Surrey and Sussex has over 60 PCNs. Read more

For more information

Patient group directions (PGDs)

Patient group directions (PGDs) are written instructions to help health professionals supply or administer medicines to patients, usually in planned circumstances.  For example, flu vaccinations services from community pharmacy are governed by a PGD

For more information

Pharmoutcomes

PharmOutcomes is a web-based system which helps community pharmacies provide services more effectively and makes it easier for commissioners to audit and manage these services. By collating information on pharmacy services, it allows local and national level analysis and reporting on the effectiveness of commissioned services, helping to improve the evidence base for community pharmacy services. 

More information

Pre-registration Training Grant

Pre-registration Training Grant Payments are made by NHS England in areas. Further details about the training grant are set out in PartXIII of the Drug Tariff.

Local NHS England teams (formerly known as Area Teams) are responsible for instructing the NHS Prescription Services to make payments in respect of pre-registration trainees. For payment related problems linked to the pre-registration grant, the first point of contact is a contractor’s local NHS England team which can be contacted on  england.southeastpharmacypayments@nhs.net

For Pre-registration Training grant – more info https://psnc.org.uk/funding-and-statistics/funding-distribution/pre-registration-training-grant/

For more information

Contact: lpc@communitypharmacyss.co.uk 

Quarterly Submissions

Under the CPCF community pharmacy contractors must submit completed Medicines Use Review (MUR) and/or New Medicine Service (NMS) electronic reporting templates to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) within 10 working days of the last day of each financial quarter. Failure to do so could result in a breach notice and/or financial penalties.

More information

    • The process to follow to submit MUR and/or NMS quarterly information can be found on the NHS BSA website.
    • Contact us at: lpc@communitypharmacyss.co.uk

Remote Prescribing for non-EPS enabled settings

Repeat dispensing/electronic repeat dispensing (eRD)

At least two thirds of all prescriptions generated in primary care are for patients needing repeat supplies of regular medicines, and since 2005 repeat dispensing has been an Essential Service within the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF).

Originally this service was mostly carried out using paper prescriptions, but as the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) has developed, the majority of repeat dispensing is now carried out via EPS release 2 and is termed electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD). eRD  is much more efficient and convenient for all involved.

More information

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is one of four criteria under the community pharmacy quality scheme.  In 2018-19 80% of all pharmacy professionals should have achieved level 2 safeguarding status for children and vulnerable adults in the last two years. The scheme is being updated by NHS Improvement to reflect the new CPCF.

See CPPE for Safeguarding training 

Surrey County Council Safeguarding contacts:

West Sussex County Council Safeguarding contacts: 

Brighton & Hove City Council Safeguarding contacts:

East Sussex County Council Safeguarding contacts: 

More information 

Security advice for pharmacies (police)

In May 2020 the Police reaffirmed their commitment to working with pharmacies to protect businesses and prevent crime.

Download and share this summary of security advice which provides steps pharmacists can take to protect their staff and business.

Police Pharmacy Security Advice (07-05-20)

Please remain vigilant

More information

• Contact lpc@communitypharmacyss.co.uk

Self-care for minor conditions

Our toolkit called Promotion of Self-Care for Minor Conditions by Community Pharmacies CPSS Toolkit has been developed to assist community pharmacists and their teams promote  self-care for minor conditions by community pharmacies. It includes:

    • Guidance on the prescribing of Over the Counter (OTC) medicines
    • Conditions for which OTC items should not routinely be prescribed in primary care
    • Information and resources to support local pharmacy staff with their conversations with patients, local GP practices and CCG colleagues
    • How to support people to Self-Care for Minor Conditions via Community Pharmacy
    • Training and resources 

More information

Service evaluation tool

The LPCs represent local contractors in negotiations for locally commissioned services and have developed a ‘service evaluation tool’ for locally commissioned services to help scrutinise each proposal / service specification.

At the end of the scrutiny process a summary is shared with contractors who have expressed an interest in providing the service to highlight the key points for their attention and consideration. This helps contractors make an informed decision to provide a locally commissioned service, or not.

For more information 

Sharps (patients)

It is a responsibility of local councils to collect and dispose of patient sharps.

From 31 January 2019 community pharmacists must not accept sharps of any kind from patients. Instead they should refer patients to their local authority.

This document lists local authorities in Surrey and Sussex  Sharps disposal (local authorities in Surrey and Sussex [pdf]

More information

Signposting

This is an Essential service. It’s the provision of information to people visiting the pharmacy.

For people who require further support, advice or treatment which cannot be provided by the pharmacy, on other health and social care providers or support organisations who may be able to assist the person. Where appropriate this may take the form of a referral.  

Pharmacies are be expected to help people who ask for assistance by directing them to the most appropriate source of help

For more information  (this section is still under contsruction)

Smartcards (and helpdesk contact details for Surrey & Sussex)

NHS smartcards are similar to chip and PIN bank cards, and their access control provide security measures to protect patient data. Access control ensures only those people who are directly involved in patient care, and have a legitimate reason to access patient medical information can do so.

The local Registration Authority will assign roles onto the Smartcard, and will also set the Smartcard so that it can be used in the relevant pharmacy, or multiple pharmacies.

Each pharmacy team member whose role means that they need a Smartcard should have one; Smartcards should not be shared by staff. All pharmacy staff registering for a smartcard for the first time will have to go through the full registration process, including having their identity verified to 

A flowchart of how to raise a call to the Sussex help desk features in appendix 4 of the Sussex letter

Problems with Smartcards?

For more information

Social media

Social media can benefit community pharmacy

This on-demand webinar, called ‘Making the most of social media‘  offers guidance for community pharmacy teams on what social media to use, how to get the most from it, and what plans and procedures to put in place.

Follow on on Twitter  – @CPSS_LPCs (see also @jameswwood, @patelpatelhinal  @lamontsandra)

For more information 

Stationery

Dispensing tokens and NHS stationery is ordered via the PCSE ordering portal.  Once your pharmacy is registered on the portal, you just need to log-in and order.   You can to place and track all orders on the portal and see expected delivery dates

Pre-payment application form – FP95  |  Prescription health costs – HC11 | Receipts for prescriptions – FP57  |  Temperature charts – FP1004  |  Peak flow charts – FP1010  |  Anticoagulant therapy records book – ATC  |  Claim for prescription charge exemption on medical grounds – FP92A  |  Help with health costs – HC1   |  Dispensing tokens – FP10DT  |  Insulin Passport – IPD  |  Diabetes/Insulin information leaflet – PI8D  |  Methotrexate Treatment Book – MTB  |  Lithium Books

For more information

Substance misuse clients (Surrey) during Covid-19 pandemic

Published 23 March 2020

Changes to substance misuse prescribing have been agreed betwen the LPC, commissioner (Surrey County Council) and prescriber (I-access) to ensure the continuity of service to clients during COVID-19 pandemic.

Interruption to the existing provision of OST and clinical care due to COVID-19 will put people at increased risk of overdose therefore it is essential that adequate OST services are maintained.

 All changes are summarised in a briefing note, with immediate effect and will remain for the duration of the pandemic.

Read Briefing note for Substance Misuse Service Surrey (23 March 2020)

More information

Summary care records (SCR)

SCR provides pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with quick access to patient information, such as medication, allergies and adverse reactions, meaning there is less need to contact GPs, especially out-of-hours or during busy periods. Over 93% of community pharmacies now have access to SCR and over 24,000 pharmacy professionals have completed the SCR eLearning.

Having access to SCR will also become an NHS England measure under the Quality Payments Scheme for community pharmacy, helping to drive up quality of care.

More information

 

Surrey care records (SyCR)

This new project in Surrey, not to be confused with Summary Care Records (SCR), goes live to primary care, community teams and acute services in early summer 2020. Plans are underway to include community pharmacy before the end of 2020. More information when available. Until then please contact lpc@communitypharmacyss.co.uk 

 Read more on the Surrey Heartlands website and watch this video.

Temporary Safeguarding Payments (Drug Tariff Part Part XIVC)

If prescribers systematically increase prescription duration on all or a significant percentage of their prescription items, this could lead to dispensing contractors facing increased supplier bills in certain months (as more medicines are dispensed per prescription than usual) and then decreased prescription item volume in subsequent months.

Where a contractor’s dispensing business is affected in this way, the contractor may be entitled to make one or both of the following claims under temporary safeguarding arrangement.

Read more on the Drug Tariff website

More information

Contact lpc@communitypharmacyss.co.uk

Test and Trace actions for contractors in Surrey and Sussex (Covid-19) added 12 June 2020

All NHS community pharmacy contractors have been asked to read and follow the latest guidance on Test and Trace and take the following actions:

    1. Prepare for potential staff absence: you should review your existing business continuity plans and take actions as required. This includes ensuring that arrangements are in place within a primary care network or between buddies to maintain patient access to services.
      • Local business continuity information prepared by your LPCs relevant to Surrey & Sussex can be found here 
      • The LPC can help with ‘buddy’ arrangements if you need further help or advice contact us on lpc@communitypharmacyss.co.uk
    • 2. Inform your commissioner as soon as you consider that delivery of your full contracted service may be compromised

      Primary Care Onset Covid19 Actions to be taken by contractors (June 2020) See Appendix 4 of doc called latest guidance on Test and Trace

      by staff absence due to Test and Trace. The commissioner will work with you to put business continuity arrangements in place and to maintain access to services for patients. you will need to update information on patient accessible websites and the impacted NHS 111 Directory of Services profiles will need to be updated by calling the emergency change number (0300 0200 363) 

3. The commissioner will inform the Regional Incident Coordination Centre without delay and work with you to implement appropriate business continuity measures. The Regional Team will notify the National Incident Coordination Centre. In addition, Public Health England has launched SIREN, a new large-scale study to improve understanding of COVID-19 immunity and reinfection. Trusts will be asked to use their PCR and serology capability to monitor a cohort of healthcare workers fortnightly for up to 18 months for the purposes of this study. SIREN is aiming to determine whether a detectable antibody response protects against future infection in the short and medium term, which will help inform the public health response to COVID19.

More information

    • Here are the contact details for your local health protection team should you need them:
      • EmailPHE.sshpu@nhs.net
      • Telephone0344 225 3861 (option 1 to 4 depending on area)
        • Option : 1 Kent
        • Option 2: Hampshire and IOW
        • Option 3: Surrey and Sussex
        • Option 4: Thames Valley
      • Out of hours advice:  0844 967 0069
    • See also C for Covid-19 testing for community pharmacy staff and their families

TCAM

The TCAM pathway aims to keep patients safe when they transfer between care settings, providing a seamless transfer of a patient’s medicines information on discharge directly from the hospital to the patient’s choice of community pharmacy.  This is achieved through the safe and secure PharmOutcomes platform, a system already familiar to Community Pharmacy.

Despite not being mandatory, contractual and/or part of any commissioned service all three of our Local Pharmaceutical Committees (LPCs) encourage their contractors to participate in the TCAM pathway. The LPCs recommend that contractors look on PharmOutcomes about once-a-day to check whether they’ve had any referrals, and to deal with them as they think best according to their local procedures.  (reference:  TCAM position statement (revised 10 June 2019)

Update 12 June 2020   A Discharge Medicines Service (DMS) is to be added to the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) during 2020-21.  This new Essential service, which all pharmacy contractors will have to provide, was originally trailed in the 5-year CPCF agreement, with a formal announcement regarding the service made by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in February 2020. Read: TCAM and the Discharge Medication Service (CPSS briefing note June 2020)

For more information

Volunteers - working with during Covid-19

The LPCs have developed a briefing note for NHS Community Pharmacy contractors in Surrey and Sussex to help them navigate a way through the different volunteer help that is available to patients and contractors, should they need help.  The briefing note also contains details of 

Download and read: Briefing note (COVID19) Using volunteers to gets medicines to vulnerable people (updated 14 April 2020)

Download and read: NHS Volunteer Responders: Practical guide and tips for primary care and community
health professionals(published 6 May 2020)

More information

Translating and interpreting services

More information when available. Until then please contact lpc@communitypharmacyss.co.uk 

Waste - pharmacy

Anenta Ltd manage the clinical waste services contract for NHS England. This means they do not collect waste themselves, but appoint and manage  local waste contractors and manage their performance. Anenta are your first point of contact for ALL waste matters.

Pharmacy contractors must register with Anenta Ltd using this short form ( you will receive an immediate email confirmation to the address you registered with, then a subsequent email telling  you how to use the service).

Covid-19: Read LPC advice to contractors about handling returned medicines.  (Posted: 27 April 2020)

More information

    • COVID-19: Dealing with patient-returned / unwanted medicines (England) Joint guidance  for community pharmacies in England. (May 2020) from The National Pharmacy Association (NPA), the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC), Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group (CP PSG) and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
    • Read FAQs about community pharmacy waste: NHSE CW Contract – FAQ Pharmacies 2017
    • Anenta is a waste managing agent, not a waste collector and will help you if you have concerns or complaints about missed collections or require additional collections.
    • Tell Anenta your concerns about your waste collections and they will contact your waste collector – Stericycle or Cannon Hygiene on your behalf.
    • Contact Anenta’s support team on 03301 222 143 or support@anenta.com
    • Needle exchange waste is not part of this contract. This remains as per the service specification in your LPC area

Please make sure that you use the correct disposal methods for both medicines and sharps, and do not mix both. Failure to do so could be seen as a breach of your contract with the NHS and/or Duty of Care  Regulations 1991 and/or Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Pharmacy multiples/chains should liaise with company managers/head office before registering with Anenta.

Weather alerts

For up to date weather alerts from the Met Office click here.

More information

Wellbeing (and resilience at work)

In a pharmacy the staff team is its most important asset. If the team isn’t functioning at full strength, the business may not be working at optimum productivity – and maybe missing important contractual and legal obligations:

    • Be Drinkaware 
    • Get support to stop smoking
    • Eat well
    • Stay in touch and stay social 
    • Keep a list of numbers and emergency contacts (some are already elsewhere in this A-Z)

Are you worried about anything?

    • Contractual and/or about service delivery? Tell us; we might be able to help:  lpc@communitypharmacyss.co.uk 
    • Other issues? We may be able to put you in contact with an employee assistance support service

Whistleblowing

If you have a concern about issues that have wider implications for patients, other members of staff, the general public and/or the reputation of community pharmacy. it’s important that you feel able to, and are supported to, raise it appropriately.

PSNC has a briefing about whistleblowing, raising a concern or speaking up. All these terms mean the same thing.

For more information

Zero tolerance

Community pharmacies provide specialised advice and treatment on a range of health matters and both the profession and patients should be able to deliver and access these services in a safe and secure environment, without the threat of abuse or violence.

Abuse towards any member of staff should never be tolerated and we should make this clear, as well as raising awareness of the abuse that is directed towards contractors and their staff.

Two sized poster documents have been developed by the NPA Marketing team to support Pharmacy branches. Both carry the NHS logo.  Here they are for you to download, print and display  ZERO Tolerance Poster A4    ZERO Tolerance poster A5

For more information

Can’t find what you are looking for?