CPPE And NPA Announce Launch Of Communicating Locally - A New Local Solutions Resource

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 24 Nov 2009 - 0:00 PST

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The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) and the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) are pleased to announce the launch of Communicating locally - a new local solutions resource designed to help community pharmacists, GPs and trainee GPs to improve how they communicate with their colleagues.

Using a workshop-based format, the programme aims to help attendees to become more confident when communicating with other members of the healthcare team in discussions relating to patient-centred care. Through better communication, pharmacy and practice staff can achieve not only better working relationships but also enhanced levels of patient care.

Those attending a Communicating locally event will be given a pre-workshop booklet to help them prepare. At the workshop, they will discuss case studies and relevant communication issues with their colleagues. They will also be asked to think about how they can change their practice and use their learning to aid their continuing professional development.

Commenting on the new resource, Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the British Medical Association's (BMA) General Practitioners Committee, said: "We believe that Communicating locally will be of great benefit in helping to facilitate communication and joint working between general practitioners and pharmacists, as we share the NPA and CPPE's commitment to ensuring that patient care is of the highest quality. Inter-professional co-operation is one way of achieving that.

"We are grateful to have had the opportunity to help shape this workshop and very much look forward to the continuation of such joint working between the professions in the future."

John Turk National Pharmacy Association Chief Executive said: "Over the past ten years there have been massive changes in the way we communicate with each other. This has coincided with a greater need for all healthcare professionals to work more closely to ensure better patient care. Communicating locally will build stronger relationships between GPs, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. The NPA is delighted to be working with CPPE and the BMA on the project."

The Professional Relationships working group for the Pharmacy in England White Paper, which incorporates NHS Employers, has also endorsed the Communicating locally resource.

About CPPE and local solutions

The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) is funded by the Department of Health to provide continuing education for practising pharmacists and pharmacy technicians providing NHS services in England. It is based in the University of Manchester's School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science within the multidisciplinary teaching environment of the Faculty of Medicine and Human Sciences. Since 1991, CPPE has focused on designing and delivering new programmes on both the national and local needs for pharmacists providing NHS services.

CPPE has launched local solutions to support enhanced services through harmonised accreditation processes. The workshops can be used by commissioner or provider, or be commissioned from CPPE. Other resources in this learning format include Chlamydia screening and treatment and Safe management of controlled drugs.

Other learning formats available to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians practising in England include learning@lunch, focal point, open learning, tutor-led workshops and e-assessments. Learning programmes are designed to aid pharmacy professionals in pursuing their continuing professional development (CPD). Please visit the CPPE website http://www.cppe.ac.uk for further information.

Source
National Pharmacy Association