CPN
Community Pharmacy News – April 2017
First Quality Payments review date approaches Online declaration portal for the Quality Payments Scheme opens; and final resources published
Judicial Review hearing concludes | Social media webinar | Sorting prescription bundles
SERVICES AND COMMISSIONING
THE HEALTHCARE LANDSCAPE
LPCs
Quality Payments: The final countdown As we draw closer to the first review date for the Quality Payments Scheme, contractors are reminded of the support available. The April review date for the Quality Payments Scheme is fast approaching and the NHS Business Services Authority’s Portal for the Quality Payment online declaration has now opened. Many community pharmacy contractors are well on their way to meeting the gateway criteria and some if not all the quality criteria for the Quality Payments Scheme and they are now able to access the online declaration portal on the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) website: ow.ly/4wu830aEvwI The portal will remain open until Friday 12th May 2017 at 11.59pm for contractors to complete their declarations. Although the first review date is not until Friday 28th April, contractors can start adding data now and will be able to re-enter
the portal to add further information at a later date before the portal closes. However, contractors must remember to re-enter the portal and submit the declaration before the deadline, otherwise they will not be entitled to a Quality Payment. Please note, once a contractor has submitted their online declaration it cannot then be altered. It is, therefore, imperative that contractors check their declaration thoroughly before submitting their declaration on the website. After the declaration has been submitted, the contractor will receive an email from the NHS BSA confirming that it has been successfully submitted and confirming the details that have been declared. This email should be retained by the pharmacy
as proof that the declaration was submitted and the date of submission. The email will show how contractors have responded to each of the gateway and quality criteria. To further help contractors, we have published a PSNC Briefing to highlight the resources available from PSNC to assist contractors with meeting the criteria. You can view this at: ow.ly/vJ1330aoxpI Contractors are also reminded of the importance of reading both the Gateway Criteria Guidance and the Quality Criteria Guidance from NHS England to ensure they are fully briefed on the Quality Payments Scheme. Both documents are available on the NHS England website and are linked to from PSNC’s Quality Payments Hub: psnc.org.uk/quality
QPS webinar update available on-demand Community pharmacy teams can now access an online recording of PSNC’s recent webinar on the Quality Payments Scheme.
Some of the feedback we have received so far:
“The order in which to tackle the criteria was very helpful. ”
More than 400 people tuned in to the one-hour webinar on Thursday (16th March) when PSNC gave a comprehensive update on the Quality Payments Scheme with all the latest information available from NHS England. On the night Alastair Buxton, PSNC Director of NHS Services, talked viewers through each of the criteria, explaining how to meet them and the self-declaration process. He also highlighted all the guidance and resources available from PSNC, as well as answering many viewers’ questions.
Feedback on the webinar
Feedback received so far has been very positive, with 71% saying they found the webinar very useful and 95% saying they would recommend it to others.
71% found it very useful
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Director/Owner
“Overall very useful. Already recommended to other members of the team. ” Locum Pharmacist “Feel much more up to date regarding the quality payment criteria. ” Pre-registration Trainee Did you miss out or do you just want to watch again? An on-demand recording of the webinar is now available to watch at: psnc.org.uk/QPSwebinar. To view the recording, you will need to register (or input the email address you registered with previously).
72% said it was very good at explaining the criteria
88% will use what they have learned to plan for the future
95% would recommend it to others
PSNC’s WORK
FUNDING AND STATISTICS
CONTRACT AND IT
DISPENSING AND SUPPLY
Directory of Services checker now available Contractors can now access online tool to support completion of the Directory of Services quality criterion. NHS England has published its Directory of Services (DoS) checker to support community pharmacy contractors in meeting the DoS quality criterion. The DoS quality criterion requires, on the day of the review, that a pharmacy’s NHS 111 DoS entry is up to date and contractors have been advised to use the following process. Please note the method of updating a pharmacy’s DoS profile has changed from that given in the NHS England guidance. 1. Visit the DoS checker website: https://view.pathwaysdos.nhs.uk 2. Enter either your ODS code (F code), postcode or pharmacy name to search for your pharmacy. Not all pharmacy DoS profiles are linked to their ODS code currently. Therefore, even if a profile comes up for your pharmacy when you search by ODS code, you should also search for other profiles for your pharmacy using the pharmacy’s postcode and pharmacy name as your DoS entry may be made up of more than one profile (e.g. if you offer an urgent medicines service, minor ailments scheme etc. then your pharmacy will have a separate DoS profile detailing this). 3. If you cannot find your pharmacy after searching using all three fields, please email england.communitypharmacy@nhs.net with ‘DoS’ in the title, for further assistance. In the email please include your pharmacy name, ODS code, address and postcode. 4. Click on the profile for your pharmacy or one of the profiles if more than one is listed for your pharmacy. 5. Check that the information displayed for your pharmacy is accurate. 6. Make a note of any inaccuracies and keep this information. Your local NHS 111 DoS Lead will be in contact for this information at a later date. 7. If there is more than one profile listed for your pharmacy, you should repeat steps 4-6 for each profile listed. 8. The survey form must then be completed. Please note, even if your DoS entry is up to date, you will still need to complete the survey form to confirm you have reviewed your DoS entry. The results of the survey will inform your local NHS 111 DoS Lead that you have checked your DoS entry and will let them know where changes need to be made. 9. Once the survey form has been completed, you will receive a confirmation email which should be retained as evidence that this quality criterion has been met. Although the quality criterion states ‘On the day of the review, the pharmacy’s NHS 111 Directory of Services entry is up to date’ NHS England has confirmed that as long as the above process is followed, contractors will meet the quality criterion for the April review point even if changes are not made to a pharmacy’s DoS entry by the local NHS 111 DoS Lead by the April review point. Local NHS 111 DoS Leads are developing systems locally to improve how updates to the DoS are made. Local DoS leads will communicate with contractors separately about this after the declaration period for the April review point closes.
SCR calculator now available NHS Digital’s Summary Care Record (SCR) usage calculator tool has been created to assist community pharmacy contractors in monitoring and increasing their SCR usage to meet the SCR quality criterion, which requires contractors to be able to demonstrate on the day of the review, a total increase in access to SCR from period 1 to period 2 as defined below.
For 28th April 2017 review point
Period 1
Period 2
Monday 27th June 2016 to Sunday 27th November 2016
Monday 28th November 2016 to Sunday 30th April 2017
The calculator will show the number of times a pharmacy has viewed the SCR in period 1 and period 2. It will be updated every Thursday to show the latest figures. Check your SCR usage now: tinyurl.com/SCRcalculator
Have you reviewed your NHS Choices profile yet? Community pharmacy contractors are reminded of the gateway criterion to review their NHS Choices entry for their pharmacy and ensure this is up to date before the review period closes on Friday 28th April at 11.59pm. Contractors are required to edit or validate three parts of their NHS Choices profile to meet the gateway criterion: • their opening hours; • the facilities the pharmacy provides e.g. consulting room, parking, etc.; and • the services the pharmacy provides. Find out more about what to do and how to do it at: ow.ly/b3tE30avsDk
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CONTRACT AND IT
DISPENSING AND SUPPLY
SERVICES AND COMMISSIONING
Judicial Review hearing concluded At the end of last month PSNC, the NPA and the Department of Health presented evidence during a High Court hearing on the imposed community pharmacy funding package for 2016/17 and 2017/18. The hearing of the Judicial Review cases relating to the changes imposed on community pharmacy in October 2016 took place between 21st and 23rd March 2017. The two cases brought by PSNC and the NPA were heard alongside one another by Mr Justice Collins in the High Court. PSNC’s case alleged that the Secretary of State failed to carry out a lawful consultation on the proposals for community pharmacy. Mr Justice Collins will now need to consider the substantial information that has been disclosed through this process including at the hearing this week. We do not expect the judgment before mid April. It is not helpful to speculate on what the outcome may be at this stage.
Single Activity Fee change The community pharmacy Single Activity Fee (SAF) has risen from £1.13 to £1.25 per item from April 2017, the Department of Health has confirmed. The SAF incorporates and replaces the Professional Fee, Practice Payments, Repeat Dispensing Fee and EPS Monthly Allowances. The increase has been made to ensure the correct delivery of funding for the year. PSNC has updated its indicative income calculator tool to reflect the change in SAF from our earlier estimates. The calculator allows contractors to easily view an estimated income simply by entering the number of items dispensed per month. Find it at: psnc.org.uk/ fundingchanges
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In her submissions, PSNC’s barrister Alison Foster QC made the following points: • PSNC regrets that it found itself in this position having worked with the Department of Health (DH) in ‘harmony’ in the past. • Drawing on the core arguments set out in PSNC’s skeleton argument: º Failings in the process such that the consultation was unlawful; º The funding cut concerns the private sector and therefore, livelihoods, family businesses and mortgages on homes; º Smaller contractors will be hardest hit; º The unprecedented nature of the cuts; and º This was a comprehensive reshaping of the markets. • That DH did not use the Cost of Service Inquiry 2011 as the basis for discussions. • The narrow and technical nature of the legislative provisions for the Drug Tariff is to ensure fair and reasonable remuneration, rather than to enable a reshaping of the community pharmacy market. • Discussion of the relevant legal authorities and the requirements that these indicate for lawful consultations, e.g. that they must be carried out in the formative stage of policy development.
And in response to information disclosed by DH: • Alison Foster highlighted the repeated use of a 10-15% operating margin figure: º The 10% estimate came from one person described as an ‘Industry Insider’ whose information had been destroyed after the meeting with DH officials; and º The 15% from an analysis of Companies House data, 2015, which Tim Ogier of PwC has since discredited and suggested shows a 6% operating margin. • Alison Foster indicated that there were references to 25% too many pharmacies; removing pharmacy focus from supply; transformational opportunities; a strong possibility of a press and media backlash (to closures); hub and spoke; GPs incentivised towards internet pharmacies and amazon style deliveries; and that in a meeting with CCA representatives the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer had said there were ‘perhaps 3,000 too many’ pharmacies.
The DH’s submissions: Arguments from the Secretary of State for Health, represented by James Eadie QC, included: • the knowledgeable status of the PSNC (it was not an ordinary consultee); • that sufficient evidence had been provided to PSNC to enable it to respond to the consultation – as the statutory consultee PSNC had been provided with additional information; and • that there had been sufficient time for PSNC to respond – the consultation had been extended until 24 May 2016 and then further consultation had occurred over a 5-week or so period in the Autumn of 2016.
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Capita PCSE services update: Pharmacy compensation claims NHS England provides a route for community pharmacy contractors to make claims for detrimental loss due to issues with Capita’s service. NHS England has set up an email account to handle claims from community pharmacy contactors about losses they have incurred due to poor service from Primary Care Support England (PCSE). This follows a range of issues that have arisen since Capita’s takeover of the PCSE service contract in 2015, including delays in market entry decisions and late payments. PSNC has been in ongoing correspondence with Karen Wheeler, NHS England National Director: Transformation and Corporate Operation, escalating concerns as well as seeking remedial action, compensation and a route for contractors to use to raise issues with NHS England. In a letter to PSNC, Ms Wheeler has now set out how such a route has been provided, asking for all correspondence from contractors to be sent to: pcse.ppinfo@nhs. net. This will enable NHS England to ensure that issues are logged centrally and handled in a consistent way.
The system is, in effect, a claims system for contractors who have been detrimentally affected by Capita’s running of PCSE. Examples of this could be where statutory deadlines and time limits for market entry, set out in the NHS (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013, have not been met, or where payments such as pre-registration payments have been made late. Contractors wishing to raise issues should: • Send details of any concerns, for example delays or payments made late, and evidence of the detrimental loss, for example, invoices or bank charges, to: pcse.ppinfo@nhs.net; • Send a copy (and any further correspondence) to PSNC at: claimscopy@ psnc.org.uk, so that PSNC can track the number and type of concerns raised; and • Continue to send any general queries or complaints to pcse.enquiries@nhs. net and pcse.complaints@nhs.net respectively. These will be managed as normal.
NHS England whistleblowing requirement PSNC has updated its guidance on whistleblowing for community pharmacy contractors to assist them in reviewing their existing whistleblowing policies and procedures as required by September 2017. Pharmacy teams will be familiar with the concept of whistleblowing within the NHS and the requirement within the clinical governance provisions to have arrangements for whistleblowing to include a written policy. In November 2016, NHS England published Freedom to speak up in Primary Care – new guidance on supporting whistleblowing in the NHS aimed at all providers of NHS primary care services, including community pharmacies. The guidance includes an expectation that contractors will review and update their existing policies and procedures on this subject. Contractors without a formal whistleblowing policy, e.g. recent openings, should note that NHS England’s guidance includes a template whistleblowing policy which PSNC has adapted for community pharmacy use. To find all of PSNC’s guidance, please visit: psnc.org.uk/whistleblowing
Contractors are encouraged to provide as much detail as possible, as NHS England will need to see evidence of loss or detrimental impact to the pharmacy. NHS England has said that inquiries sent to the email address will be logged and acknowledged. Claims will be appropriately reviewed (by local teams if necessary), seeking further information as necessary. NHS England may then reject them or offer appropriate goodwill payments to contractors. The letter from Karen Wheeler says: “The purpose of this arrangement is to provide a co-ordinated way for individual performers and contractors to raise issues which have had a detrimental impact. Inevitably there will be issues raised that NHS England is either unable to consider or resolve and correspondents will be advised accordingly about these.” Further information about this process can be found at: psnc.org.uk/pcse
Pharmacy Access Scheme update PSNC wishes to inform community pharmacy contractors that it has identified issues with payments being made under the Pharmacy Access Scheme (PhAS) and is working with the Department of Health and NHS England to find solutions. Since the introduction of PhAS, PSNC has been working to make sure that the scheme will operate in accordance with the Drug Tariff. However, from PSNC’s own investigations, as well as reports from contractors, problems with how the scheme has been implemented have been discovered. We will make an announcement about resolutions via the PSNC website as soon as we are able to and our advice for now is that contractors await further news.
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CONTRACT AND IT
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SERVICES AND COMMISSIONING
Making the most of social media: a new PSNC webinar Community pharmacy teams and LPC members are invited to join us for hints and tips on getting the best out of social media to help promote community pharmacy to patients and stakeholders. Looking to reach out to your patients and local contacts on social media? Hoping to increase engagement with local politicians? Or just want to follow and share local healthcare news?
get the most from it, and what plans and procedures you may need to put in place to do so. Lasting about an hour, there will also be an opportunity for viewers to ask questions at the end.
If so, register to join PSNC’s webinar on Making the most of social media on Wednesday 26th April at 7.30pm and find out how to make best use of social media in your pharmacy.
This webinar is suitable for those considering using social media for the first time or just starting out, as well as those who have already have accounts but want to know how to use them more effectively.
On the night, the PSNC Communications Team will be joined by LPC Chief Officer Nick Hunter and social media experts Ben Stockman and David Angell to explain how social media use can benefit your pharmacy. The presenters will offer guidance for community pharmacy teams on what social media to use, how to
Register your place now at: psnc.org.uk/webinar
New SCR registration process for 2017/18 With effect from 1st April 2017, a new process has been established for community pharmacy contractors to go live with Summary Care Records (SCR). The process to apply for SCR access is outlined in our updated checklist (psnc.org.uk/SCRgolive) and also on NHS Digital’s website here: www.tinyurl.com/getstartedwithSCR. There will be no requirement to attend face-to-face training. SCR provides pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with access to patient information, such as medication, allergies and adverse reactions, reducing the need to contact GP practices. Over 93% of community pharmacies now have access to SCR and over 24,000 pharmacy professionals have completed the SCR e-learning. From April 2017, demonstrating increasing usage of SCR over time became a measure for quality criteria as part of the Quality Payments Scheme. Additionally, online training is now available for SCR Governance Persons (SGPs) (previously called Privacy Officers) from the NHS Digital website: www.tinyurl.com/getstartedwithSCR
6 Community Pharmacy News – April 2017
Unable to attend? Don’t worry, a recorded version of the webinar will be made available a few days after the event.
Highlight the work you do in the #Pharmacy24 event An annual social media event celebrating the work pharmacy teams do on a daily basis will take place on Thursday 13th April. During the @WePharmacists ‘24 hours in pharmacy’ Twitter event, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other pharmacy staff are invited to tweet their activities using the hashtag #pharmacy24. The event is specifically timed for the day before the Easter bank holiday weekend as this is one of the busiest times of the year for community pharmacy. #Pharmacy24 hopes to explore the tasks and challenges that pharmacy teams face on a day-to-day basis, celebrate the successes and demonstrate the scale and range of what pharmacy teams deliver in 24 hours. All those who work in the pharmacy sector are encouraged to join in by sharing anything that shows how much of a positive difference you are making to your patients and the wider NHS. Whatever you can manage, this is the day to show everyone what you do every day.
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NHS England publishes delivery plan Update on NHS Five Year Forward View includes methods of improving the patient experience and a review of low value prescription items. NHS England has published its delivery plan for the next two years. In Next Steps on the NHS Five Year Forward View NHS England sets out a number of actions it believes will enable the NHS to free up hospital beds whilst at the same time providing patients with less severe conditions a better network of care and alternative treatment options outside of hospitals. As part of the plan, NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens has announced a review of low value prescription items which the NHS may stop prescribing in an effort to make significant savings. NHS England will work with clinicians to set out a national approach for CCGs across the country to follow.
NHS England also plans to encourage GP practices to work together in ‘hubs’ to share resources, and this includes a reference to working more closely with community pharmacists, “to make fuller use of the contribution they make”. Sue Sharpe, PSNC Chief Executive, commented: “It is not surprising that the NHS is examining opportunities to trim expenditure on items that may not be necessary, or on those that are extremely low cost to purchase. This could help reduce some of the workload of GPs if the NHS ensures that people know that their local pharmacy can help them manage their conditions, and properly recognises the services pharmacies provide now and could extend in future. We will be examining the proposals and offering views to NHS England as it develops its work.”
NHS England has set some targets to help improve the patient experience: During 2017: Begin work to create a seamless route from NHS 111 and GP out of hours services to pharmacies via the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS).
By December 2017: Access to patient data, either through the Summary Care Record (SCR) or local care record sharing services, for every A&E, urgent care centre and pharmacy.
By March 2018: 40% of the country to have access to evening and weekend GP appointments – extending to 100% by March 2019.
By March 2019: More than 1,300 pharmacists to be working in GP practices.
Healthcare news in brief Here’s a round-up of what is going on in the wider health and care landscape beyond community pharmacy. For more information on any of these stories, please see the monthly updates at: psnc.org.uk/hclbriefings Hospital winter pressures Daily winter performance data from NHS Providers found that performance against the A&E four hour waiting time target continues to fall, with just 86.2% of patients seen within four hours compared to the 95% target.
Adult smoking habits The Office for National Statistics has observed that, from 2010 to 2015, smoking has become less common across all ages in the UK and, in 2015, of all adults in Great Britain who had previously smoked, 56.7% had quit.
LGA Annual Public Health report The Local Government Association (LGA) has published a compilation of case studies highlighting the progress made by local authorities since public health was transferred from the NHS in April 2013 to improve health and wellbeing.
Delivering care under pressure The Royal College of Physicians has found 55% of doctors believe that patient safety has deteriorated over the past 12 months and 84% experienced staffing shortages across the team. Its report calls for action to prioritise public health and prevention as well as supporting and valuing the NHS workforce.
Hepatitis C in the UK A Public Health England survey estimates around 160,000 people in England are living with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. The survey also found needle/ syringe provision to be suboptimal, with less than a half of those of who had injected psychoactive drugs reporting adequate provision for their needs.
Self-Care: Everybody’s Talking About It Regional Voices has published a briefing for commissioners on the contribution the voluntary and community sector make as enablers of self-care. The report is accompanied by a discussion paper which explores the extent to which this recognition at policy level is replicated at a local level by CCGs.
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LPCs
PSNC’s WORK
FUNDING AND STATISTICS
Pharmacist interventions reduce unsatisfactory inhaler device use by more than one-fifth COPD patients improve inhaler technique and feel they better understand their condition following intervention by community pharmacy teams. Community pharmacy teams in West Yorkshire have been providing structured consultations for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and an evaluation of the service published by Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire shows the vital role that community pharmacy teams have in COPD management. The Enabling Patient Health Improvements though COPD (EPIC) Medicines Optimisation within Community Pharmacy service aimed to target high risk COPD patients in 14 practices over four months. The practices were chosen as they are geographically located in areas where COPD patients have high rates of hospital admissions and A&E attendances. Patients were directly recruited to the service by pharmacy staff, either identified when a prescription for
inhalers was presented or by searching through patient medication records. Letters were also sent by staff at the GP practices to eligible patients who were on their COPD register to encourage them to visit their community pharmacy for a consultation. The majority of patients had a positive experience of the service and learned more about their condition and treatment. The evaluation shows that 95.3% of patients felt they had a better understanding of COPD following the consultations, and 95.8% of patients felt they understood their different medicines following the consultations. The evaluation highlights that a COPD consultation within a community pharmacy setting can improve COPD health status and optimise their inhaler technique as well as identify other interventions that may be needed.
Evaluation highlights 22.6% drop in unsatisfactory inhaler device use post-pharmacy intervention Statistically significant reduction in mean COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score at 8-12 weeks Improved inhaler technique for 93.7% of inhaler devices which were originally assessed as being used sub-optimally
95% of patients felt they gained a better understanding of COPD Read the article in full at: ow.ly/96x230avvHv
Candidates selected for PSNC Leadership Academy 2017 The candidates for the second year of the PSNC Leadership Academy have now been selected. There was a lot of interest in PSNC’s leadership development programme for LPCs, designed to develop leaders for the future, and we received applications from numerous strong candidates, making the selection process for the 12 places tough. PSNC would like to extend its congratulations to all the successful candidates; we will be tracking the development of the group and keep LPCs updated with news of their progress.
The successful candidates, and their LPCs, are: 1. Alexander James, Devon LPC 2. Anna Ruthven, Warwickshire LPC 3. Claire Rossiter, Dorset LPC 4. Dipesh Raghwani, Greater Manchester LPC 5. Kash Wahid, Suffolk LPC 6. Leah Davies, Liverpool LPC 7. Luvjit Kandula, Leicestershire and Rutland LPC 8. Mark Stephenson, Sunderland LPC 9. Myra Battle, Suffolk LPC 10. Peter Woodward, Hampshire LPC 11. Adam Irvine, Greater Manchester LPC 12. Amit Patel, Pharmacy London
National pharmacy flu service to be recommissioned The publication of the annual flu letter for 2017/18 by the Department of Health, Public Health England and NHS England confirms that the Community Pharmacy Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Advanced Service will continue in 2017/18. Please note that, at this stage, no discussions on the contractual requirements or funding have yet taken place with PSNC. This announcement was made as the 2016/17 service came to an end with the news that community pharmacy teams had administered at least 221k more NHS flu vaccinations than in the previous year. Find more data at: psnc.org.uk/flustats
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CONTRACT AND IT
DISPENSING AND SUPPLY
SERVICES AND COMMISSIONING
THE HEALTHCARE LANDSCAPE
Leadership for Healthy Living Pharmacies The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) is running a workshop to help your pharmacy make the most of its Healthy Living Pharmacy status. One of the quality criteria for the “Quality Payments Scheme is that your pharmacy has achieved Healthy Living Pharmacy (HLP) Level 1 status. The aim of this is to maximise the contribution of pharmacy towards the support of health and wellbeing and the prevention of ill health.
Our Leadership for Healthy Living Pharmacies all-day workshop covers the leadership requirements of the self-assessment framework for HLP Level 1 quality criteria and is tailored to meet local needs. Visit www.cppe.ac.uk/skills/hlp to find out more about this workshop and the other HLP resources we offer.
Michelle Styles
Becoming an HLP requires you and your team to change the way in which you approach healthy lifestyle advice. You will need to make every contact count by proactively engaging with your patients and customers and creating a healthy living ethos in the pharmacy. This needs buy-in from the whole team and cannot be down to one person. Regional Manager, London
Effective leadership in the pharmacy is essential to support this change and is an underpinning component of the HLP self-assessment framework. The Team leadership section of the framework requires that an individual from the pharmacy team has undergone leadership training that maps to certain domains of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Leadership Development Framework. We offer a number of learning programmes to support leadership, all of which map to the relevant domains, so you can be confident when you are undertaking the selfassessment that your training meets the requirements.
”
CPPE Courses Consulting with people with physical disabilities This e-learning programme considers the key skills and behaviours that pharmacy professionals can adopt to ensure a patient-centred approach is taken when consulting with people with a physical disability with a focus on sight loss, hearing loss and mobility problems. Anticoagulation: what a good consultation looks like CPPE’s anticoagulation programme will enable pharmacy professionals to gain confidence in providing consultations with patients about anticoagulant medicines. The programme features a variety of video examples of good practice as well as case studies to reinforce learning points. Find out more about both of these courses at: ow.ly/g8kK30aoXCw
Spring edition of CSfPP newsletter published CPPE has published the spring edition of its Consultation Skills for Pharmacy Practice (CSfPP) newsletter which provides the latest round-up of CSfPP related news. The newsletter reminds readers that it has now been three years since the CSfPP learning programme was launched and reiterates its importance to consultations and patient care. The newsletter highlights the most recent learning programmes launched by CPPE and programmes currently in development. It also features top messages to share and how CPPE can support learners. Read more, including how to get on the CSfPP mailing list, at: ow.ly/FcX930aoZ4H
Pre-order cancer campaign resources Community pharmacy teams can now pre-order free resources for the Be Clear on Cancer Respiratory Symptoms campaign which launches on 18th May 2017. The pharmacy toolkit includes promotional resources such as posters and leaflets, as well as briefing materials for staff. Find out more, including how to order your toolkit, at: ow.ly/Gr2Y30aEFk5
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Pharmacy notice board In this section of Community Pharmacy News we have highlighted some key notices for you and your team to be aware of in the coming weeks and months. APT UK phar mac y tech nicia n awa rds 2017
) is inviting applications for their The Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK cy technicians. pharma of ments achieve the se annual awards to showca
r of APTUK to apply for the awards; Pharmacy technicians do not need to be a membe aged. however, membership is encour
apply, please visit ow.ly/F5aE30aEyKZ For more information on the awards and how to 2017. April All nominations must be received by 24th
Web inar s fro m the Pric ing Auth orit y NHS Prescription Services is holding a number of webinars over the next few months covering prescription endorsing, submission and switching. These events will provide useful information to any member of your pharmacy team who is involved in the dispensing process. Find out how to register at: ow.ly/k mwv30 9trbm
y at Su cc es s fo r ph ar m acds NH S Fl u Fi gh te r Aw ar
have community pharmacy Representatives from the for ard Aw r Carers won the NHS Flu Fighte d in ate cre was rd awa e the third year running sinc 2015.
ers’ Pharmacy Reaching Car This year, the London r hte Fig Flu NHS the team was the winner at teams 27th March. Pharmacy Awards ceremony on ting cina campaign, vac in London got behind the – a 61% increase from ers car 0 9,30 tely approxima last year’s figure.
Flu also shortlisted for the Tesco Pharmacy was was t mis Che ons and Allis Fighter Carers’ Award Fighter+ Award. shortlisted for the Flu vice cy teams made the ser Learn how these pharma bD avw wjH 630 such a success: ow .ly/
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PSNC Office Relocation offices. PSNC’s team has moved respondence Please note our new cor and office address: PSN C
14 Hos ier Lan e Lon don
EC1A 9LQ
Ch ang es to sub mis sio n fo r add itio nal pay me nt
Community pharmacy contractors are encouraged to read Primary Care Support England (PCSE)’s lates t stakeholder bulletin which sets out a new process for submitting claim s for additional pharmacy payments.
As part of the process, all of these claims should be submitted directly to the pharmacy’s local NHS England team . Find out more at: ow.ly /ehe s30a vtPQ
DISPENSING AND SUPPLY
SERVICES AND COMMISSIONING
THE HEALTHCARE LANDSCAPE
LPCs
All you need to know about: Sorting prescriptions for submission Our Dispensing and Supply Team shows you how to prepare your end of month prescription bundle for submission to the Pricing Authority. When submitting your prescription bundle at the end of the month, there are a few things to consider before sending it off. Making sure these are carried out correctly prior to sending your bundle will prevent delays to reimbursement.
DO
DO NOT
ttach prescriptions together with paper 3 Remove all paper clips, staples, labels and invoices from the prescription bundle. 7 Aclips and staples. These must be manually ake care that prescriptions are submitted in the correct patient group, i.e. 3 Texempt removed before scanning and so payment or paid prescriptions. Incorrectly filed prescriptions will be switched. ecure exempt and charged patient groups separately with one or two elastic 3 Sbands. end EPS tokens, both prescribing and dispensing, excluding age-exempt 3 Stokens. eep repeat authorising forms (RA forms) and FP57 forms (refund forms) 3 Kseparate.
The diagram opposite shows how to organise your end of month prescription bundle. Prescription forms within each group should be sorted into prescriber order. However, any prescribers with fewer than 20 forms can be placed into a ‘miscellaneous’ section at the end of each group. *What should be filed in the ‘Red Separator’? • Expensive items; • Unlicensed specials/imports; • Broken Bulk claims; • Out Of Pocket expense claims; • Prescriber’s signature encroaching into prescribing area; • Items with supplementary product information; and • Items with prescriber handwritten amendments.
may be delayed.
se too many elastic bands. Each charge 7 Ugroup should be secured with just one or two elastic bands. end age-exempt tokens with your 7 Sexempt prescriptions as these are not required by the Pricing Authority.
All exempt EPS Tokens (Prescribing & Dispensing) excluding age exempt EPS Tokens Repeat Authorisations (RAs) Resubs Red Separator Prescriptions*
Exempt from patient charges
FP10MDA Prescriptions FP10D Prescriptions Nurse Prescriptions
FP10 Prescriptions
All chargeable EPS Tokens (Prescribing & Dispensing) Repeat Authorisations (RAs) Resubs Red Separator Prescriptions
Normal charge prescriptions
FP10MDA Prescriptions FP10D Prescriptions Nurse Prescriptions
FP10 Prescriptions
Prescription charge rises to £8.60 The NHS prescription charge increased to £8.60 per prescription item from 1st April 2017. The cost of prescription pre-payment certificates (PPCs) has remained the same for a further year, with the price of a threemonth PPC at £29.10 and a 12-month PPC at £104. PSNC distributed an updated Prescription Charge Card via the March 2017 edition of this magazine. Additional copies can be downloaded from psnc.org.uk/chargecard
psnc.org.uk 11
DISPENSING AND SUPPLY
SERVICES AND COMMISSIONING
THE HEALTHCARE LANDSCAPE
Ask PSNC The PSNC Dispensing and Supply Team can provide pharmacy teams with support and advice on a range of topics related to the Drug Tariff and reimbursement. Questions asked in recent months have included: Q. What should I do if there is additional information in the dosage field of a prescription? A. Prescribers should not include supplementary information within the dosage instruction, for example a brand name or whether a product is sugar-free or preservativefree. The information could easily be missed by the pharmacist or patient if input onto an incorrect area of the prescription. With electronic prescriptions, pricing will be based on the product code of the prescribed product, therefore, supplementary product information included in the dosage instruction area will not be considered during pricing.
Q. Can an independent nurse prescriber use FP10SS forms? A. Yes, both community and nurse independent prescribers are entitled to prescribe on FP10SS forms.
If prescriptions are received with supplementary product information in the dosage instruction area, the pharmacy may wish to contact the prescriber and return the prescription to the NHS Spine, so that the prescriber can cancel the prescription and generate a new one with the item described correctly, i.e. product information is put on the main drug line of a prescription item.
Q. I have received a prescription for a contraceptive. However, there is no ‘CC’ mark on the prescription. Will I get reimbursed?
There will be occasions where a prescriber cannot issue the prescription they wish via EPS for technical reasons. For example, this could occur if the product is not listed on the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices, or if the prescribing system is not able to issue a prescription for the item because the supplier has not ‘mapped’ the appropriate codes. This is likely to affect less commonly prescribed items including products to be specially manufactured or extemporaneously dispensed products.
A. Yes. Contraceptives listed in Part XVI of the Drug Tariff are automatically recognised when prescriptions are scanned by the item character recognition (ICR) software at the Pricing Authority.
Look out for more frequently asked questions next month… If you would like more information on any of the topics covered, the PSNC Dispensing and Supply Team will be happy to help (0203 1220 810 or e-mail info@psnc.org.uk).
Can it be dispensed on an FP10? When pharmacy teams receive NHS prescriptions, they must check whether the items prescribed are allowed on the NHS before dispensing otherwise the pharmacy contractor may not be paid for them. Below is a list of some products that we have recently received queries about. Product
Is the item listed in the Drug Tariff?
Is it Does it Can it be in the have a ‘CE’ dispensed blacklist?* mark? on an FP10?
Additional information
SOMATherapy – ED Lubricant (iMEDicare Ltd)
No
n/a
Yes
No
This item is a medical device (CE marked) and does not appear in Part IX of the Drug Tariff.
Octenisan Antimicrobial wash
No
No
No
Yes
This item is a toiletry product and does not appear in Part XVIIIA (the ‘blacklist’) of the Drug Tariff.
Phytomenadione tablets
No
No
No
Yes
This item is not listed in Part XVIIIA (the ‘blacklist’) of the Drug Tariff and it is not a medical device.
Urifix Tape 5m (Bio Diagnostics)
Yes
n/a
Yes
Yes
This item is a medical device (CE marked) and appears in Part IX of the Drug Tariff.
*n/a is because medical devices are not listed in the blacklist.
Please note: If the prescription is an FP10CN or FP10PN (community nurse prescriber), an FP10D (dental prescriber) or an FP10MDA (instalment dispensing), please visit psnc.org.uk/prescriptionforms for more information. 12 Community Pharmacy News – April 2017
LPCs
PSNC’s WORK
FUNDING AND STATISTICS
CONTRACT AND IT
Drug Tariff Watch The Preface lists additions, deletions and alterations to the Drug Tariff. Below is a quick summary of the changes due to take place from 1st May 2017. Part VIIIA additions Category A: • Betamethasone 4mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules (5) • Codeine 60mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules (10) • Furosemide 20mg/2ml solution for injection ampoules (10) • Glucose 50% solution for infusion 20ml ampoules (10) • Magnesium sulfate 10% (magnesium 0.4mmol/ml) solution for injection 10ml ampoules (10) • Magnesium sulfate 50% (magnesium 2mmol/ml) solution for injection 10ml ampoules (10) • Midazolam 2mg/2ml solution for injection ampoules (10) • Neostigmine 2.5mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules (10) • Octreotide 100micrograms/1ml solution for injection prefilled syringes (5) • Procarbazine 50mg capsules (50) Category C: • Glycerol liquid (200ml) – Thornton & Ross Ltd • Glycerol liquid (500ml) – J M Loveridge Ltd • Hydrocortisone sodium phosphate 100mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules (5) – AMCo • Levodopa 100mg / Carbidopa 25mg / Entacapone 200mg tablets (30) – Stalevo • Levodopa 100mg / Carbidopa 25mg /
Entacapone 200mg tablets (100) – Stalevo • Levodopa 125mg / Carbidopa 31.25mg / Entacapone 200mg tablets (30) – Stalevo • Levodopa 125mg / Carbidopa 31.25mg / Entacapone 200mg tablets (100) – Stalevo • Levodopa 150mg / Carbidopa 37.5mg / Entacapone 200mg tablets (30) – Stalevo • Levodopa 150mg / Carbidopa 37.5mg / Entacapone 200mg tablets (100) – Stalevo • Levodopa 175mg / Carbidopa 43.75mg / Entacapone 200mg tablets (30) – Stalevo • Levodopa 175mg / Carbidopa 43.75mg / Entacapone 200mg tablets (100) – Stalevo • Levodopa 200mg / Carbidopa 50mg / Entacapone 200mg tablets (30) – Stalevo • Levodopa 200mg / Carbidopa 50mg / Entacapone 200mg tablets (100) – Stalevo • Levodopa 50mg / Carbidopa 12.5mg / Entacapone 200mg tablets (30) – Stalevo • Levodopa 50mg / Carbidopa 12.5mg / Entacapone 200mg tablets (100) – Stalevo • Levodopa 75mg / Carbidopa 18.75mg / Entacapone 200mg tablets (30) – Stalevo • Levodopa 75mg / Carbidopa 18.75mg / Entacapone 200mg tablets (100) – Stalevo • Sildenafil 20mg tablets (90) – Revatio • Sodium bicarbonate 8.4% (1mmol/ml) solution for injection 100ml bottles (10) – AAH Pharmaceuticals Ltd • Zolmitriptan 5mg tablets (6) – Glenmark Generics (Europe) Ltd Part VIIIA amendments • Dipyridamole 50mg/5ml oral suspension
KEY: SC Special container R Item requiring reconstitution * This pack only (others already available)
sugar free (150ml) Category A is changing to Category C – Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd • Naproxen 375mg gastro-resistant tablets (56) Category C – Actavis UK Ltd is changing to Category A • Norethisterone 350microgram tablets (84) Category C – Micronor is changing to Category C – Noriday • Aciclovir 5% cream (2g) Category M is changing to Category A • Aciclovir 5% cream (10g) Category M is changing to Category A • Alverine 60mg capsules (100) Category A is changing to Category M • Bisoprolol 7.5mg tablets (28) Category A is changing to Category M • Chlorphenamine 4mg tablets (28) Category M is changing to Category A • Cimetidine 400mg tablets (60) Category M is changing to Category A • Fenofibrate micronised 160mg tablets (28) Category A is changing to Category M • Glycerol 4g suppositories (12) Category M is changing to Category A • Mefenamic acid 250mg capsules (100) Category M is changing to Category A • Prednisolone 5mg soluble tablets (30) Category C is changing to Category M Part VIIIA deletions • Glycerol liquid (100ml) • Nifedipine 10mg capsules (84) • Nifedipine 5mg capsules (84)
Part IX deletions Take careful note of removals from Part IX because if you dispense a deleted product, prescriptions will be returned as disallowed.
Product
Size, type & product code
Sigvaris CompreKnee
20-30mmHg
HiLINE Lightweight Support Belt 13cm wide
Small, Medium, Large, X Large, XX Large Hook & Eye with hole over stoma
HiLINE Lightweight Support Belt (long) 21cm wide
Small, Medium, Large, X Large, XX Large Hook & Eye with hole over stoma
PSNC website For up to date information and news on community pharmacy issues, visit the PSNC website at psnc.org.uk PSNC Community Pharmacy News is published by: The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, 14 Hosier Lane, London, EC1A 9LQ Community Pharmacy News is edited by: Melinda Mabbutt who can be contacted at the above address or by email at: mmabbutt@psnc.org.uk PSNC Office: 0203 122 0810
© PSNC
PSNC’s WORK
FUNDING AND STATISTICS
CONTRACT AND IT
PSNC resources library In this section of Community Pharmacy News we have provided details of some of the resources that PSNC has produced this month. PSNC Briefings PSNC Briefing 017/17: Quality Payments – How to meet the Directory of Services quality criterion This PSNC Briefing provides an overview of how to achieve the Directory of Services (DoS) quality criterion of the Quality Payments Scheme. Download from: ow.ly/EQP630aox6p PSNC Briefing 018/17: Quality Payments – PSNC resources This PSNC Briefing provides a list of all the PSNC resources available to community pharmacy contractors to assist them with meeting the gateway and quality criteria of the Quality Payments Scheme. Download from: ow.ly/vJ1330aoxpI See all our PSNC Briefings in our database at: psnc.org.uk/briefings
Other resources Indicative income calculator Following the announcement of a Single Activity Fee of £1.25 for 2017/18, we have updated our indicative income calculator. This tool allows contractors to easily view an estimated income simply by entering the number of items dispensed per month. Download from: psnc.org.uk/fundingchanges QPS webinar update There is now a recorded version of PSNC’s webinar update on the Quality Payments Scheme (QPS). During the webinar, Alastair Buxton, PSNC Director of NHS Services, talks you through each of the criteria, explaining how to meet them and the self-declaration process. Watch now: psnc.org.uk/QPSwebinar HLP health promotion ideas PSNC’s Services Team have been busy adding subpages to the section of our website on Healthy Living Pharmacies (HLPs). In particular, they have provided a number of ideas for different topics which pharmacy teams can use as a focus for their HLP Health Promotion Zone. Visit now: psnc.org.uk/healthpromotion Pharmacy Contact Sheet (editable) An editable electronic version of PSNC’s Pharmacy Contact Sheet is now available. The sheet was created so community pharmacy teams could record contact details for a variety of useful organisations and then stick them on a dispensary wall as a quick reference guide. Download from: ow.ly/EmxR309Rof9 Look out for additional resources as you explore our website: psnc.org.uk
Email news alerts Quality Payments: SCR calculator now available (9th March 2017) Here we highlighted the publication of NHS Digital’s Summary Care Record (SCR) usage calculator tool to assist contractors in meeting the SCR quality criterion of the Quality Payments Scheme. Read now: eepurl.com/cFGGZT Quality Payments: Directory of Services checker now available (24th March 2017) Here we detailed the process contractors should follow to meet the Directory of Services (DoS) quality criterion of the Quality Payments Scheme. Read now: eepurl.com/cH4JVz Not receiving our emails? Sign up now at: psnc.org.uk/enews