Community Pharmacy Prescribing Event & Update: Preparing for Implementation in West Yorkshire

Dear Colleague,

Last week, we held our first Prescribing Event in collaboration with Ruth Buchan and the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, focusing on preparing for the implementation of the NHS Prescribing Service. We were delighted to welcome over 80 pharmacists, many of whom are already qualified independent prescribers. The session brought together an enthusiastic and engaged audience, all keen to explore the requirements, opportunities and practical considerations for those looking to take the next step into prescribing. We were also pleased to hear from Fiona Burns, who shared her valuable experiences of prescribing as part of the NHS Pathfinder, offering useful insights to support colleagues as they prepare for this exciting development in community pharmacy.

The introduction of IP into the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) represents an exciting and significant step forward for community pharmacy, creating opportunities to expand clinical services and improve patient care. While the clinical direction is undoubtedly positive, we recognise that the changes will also bring operational challenges, and that many of the finer details are still emerging.

The key takeaways from the event were:

Professional assurance and governance: prescribing pharmacies must meet all Professional Assurance Framework requirements, including clear governance arrangements, a defined prescriber scope of practice and evidence of competence.

Digital readiness is essential: including EPS prescribing capability, appropriate smartcard permissions, access to relevant clinical records and correct use of MYS for prescribing claims.

Service delivery and clinical pathways: prescribing will replace PGD supply for Pharmacy First and Contraception, alongside five new pathways. Pharmacists will need to ensure they are competent and confident to deliver this expanded clinical care.

Onboarding and implementation: the onboarding process involves several stages, including declaration, ICB approval, cost centre setup and EPS procurement. All steps must be completed before prescribing can commence.

We were lucky enough to have a demo by Enlivio Health of their new PharmOutcomes Pharmacy First Prescribing Pathway with CLEO Systems integrated into the pathway. Look out for our upcoming drop-in sessions coming soon to share this with those of you who couldn't attend the event.

The draft Prescribing Specification has now been published on the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) website and the NHSBSA declaration process is also now open, allowing pharmacy owners to submit a declaration of intent to become an NHS Prescribing Community Pharmacy Site. However, there is no obligation for contractors to submit a declaration at this stage. At the time of writing, the updated specifications for the Pharmacy First and Pharmacy Contraception Services have yet to be published, although publication is expected imminently.

There is a significant amount of preparatory work to complete before signing up to provide prescribing services under the CPCF. By submitting the sign-up form, contractors are confirming that all required preparatory work has been completed.

We therefore recommend waiting until all relevant documentation has been published before deciding whether to sign up. This will give you the opportunity to review the full requirements; understand the responsibilities involved and ensure you are fully prepared to deliver the service.

Every pharmacy will be at a different stage of readiness, and it is important that contractors have the time and information they need to make an informed decision and progress at a pace that is right for their pharmacy.

To ensure you receive all future communications from CPWY about Independent Prescribing (IP), please complete the IP Survey Microsoft Form if you haven't already done so. Completing the survey will ensure you are included in relevant updates and receive the information you need to prepare for implementation.

Complete the Survey Here

If you are a prescriber, or planning to be one, we also encourage you to start thinking about the clinical support network you will need as you prepare to prescribe, and how you can incorporate prescribing-related learning into your continuing professional development (CPD). Building your knowledge, competence and confidence will be key to developing your scope of practice and preparing for implementation.

For further support, please keep an eye on upcoming events organised by the West Yorkshire Primary Care Training Hub in collaboration with DPP Support. See the training flyer here.

Thank you to all those who attended the event!

Kind regards,

CPWY

Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire

www.cpwy.org

info@cpwy.org

0113 272 7560

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