NPA Responds To Launch Of High Quality Care For All - The NHS Next Stage Review, UK

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 02 Jul 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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The NPA welcomes the assertion in the Next Stage Review that "pharmacies have a key role to play as providers of prevention services" mirroring the statements in the recently published pharmacy White Paper.

John Turk, NPA Chief Executive comments:

"The Report is yet another call for pharmacy to take centre stage in public health, but we know from experience that words from the centre do not necessarily translate into action on the ground. In Scotland, the pharmacy contract is developing to build up the public health offering in pharmacies; in England, the case made at national level will need to be made again at regional and local level.

The overarching message from Lord Darzi is that "quality" is now as much a part of the policy agenda as "capacity" has been since the NHS Plan was published.

Patient choice is to be the principal driver for quality improvements. Therefore pharmacists will need to consider how best to market their services to patients and the public as well as commissioners of care. The whole sector will need to think about how pharmacy can be collectively promoted."

The NPA is calling now for three principal actions:

1. Substantial and sustained investment in community pharmacy

Pharmacy needs sustained investment to step up to the opportunities open for it - including via Directed Enhanced Services. The DES category needs to be constructed in such a way that any pharmacy wishing to take part should be supported to do so. Quality in pharmacy services should be achieved through new investment, not siphoning from core funding for dispensing.

2. A drive to develop, nurture and embed pharmacy leadership at regional and local level The various leadership initiatives announced by Lord Darzi must include pharmacists - especially at local/regional level where key service & investment decisions are to be made.

SHAs are to establish clinical advisory groups, we want pharmacists to have a place by right on these influential bodies.

Renewal of Practice Based Commissioning must embrace community pharmacy by extending incentives to pharmacists and other non-GPs to get involved in service redesign

3. An effort to raise public awareness about what community pharmacy has to offer

The Public Health Awareness Campaign ('Reduce Your Risk') announced by Darzi will link to the vascular screening programme that was highlighted as a service that will be provided in part by community pharmacy. We want the campaign to promote community pharmacy as a highly accessible and expertly staffed provider of this service.

National Pharmacy Association