The NPA has developed a pharmacy IT Green Paper and started a process to design what IT could be needed in the future for community pharmacy. The NPA is requesting comment from its members and others through the NPA IT Forum website.

Gareth Jones, NPA NHS Liaison Manager said: "If community pharmacy is to progress and thrive in the way that is envisaged in the White Paper, pharmacy IT must continue to develop and support the profession. Working with members and other pharmacy bodies, the NPA has developed a pharmacy IT functionality chart (Green Paper) to set out what IT could be needed. This document is currently in draft form, and we are looking to work with NPA members, other pharmacists, other pharmacy bodies and PMR suppliers to develop this further."

The NPA is looking for feedback on the issues already outlined in the Green Paper and recommendations for inclusion of further issues. The Green Paper outlines key areas of IT functionality including:

- Basic dispensing requirements
- Deliver pharmacy services
- New/future roles for pharmacists
- Deliver specific Scotland issues
- Deliver specific England issues
- Deliver specific Wales issues
- Deliver specific Northern Ireland issues
- Advanced data management
- Compatibility with other systems
- Business Functions.

The IT functionality chart (Green Paper) can be accessed by logging on to http://itforums.npa.co.uk/. Comments should be made on the forum or sent to communications@npa.co.uk by the end of September 2009.

Source
National Pharmacy Association