In a recent roundtable, which Novartis and Novartis facilitated, we talked about how we can improve the quality of our community pharmacies along with the policy, pharmacy, voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sectors as well as the leaders of primary care.
As the new commissioning arrangements for community pharmacy services are in place, we looked at how interconnected healthcare boards (ICBs) could develop their commissioning and planning and transform their practices to improve health services for the community. In the course of our discussions, four major themes emerged.
Building relationships
Participants reported that discussions between local chief officers, committees on pharmaceuticals (local groups representing pharmacies in the community), and ICB representatives on access, workload, and capacity were crucial and contributed to creating an ’empowered local pharmacy community’. This involves establishing close working relationships with people who work in local pharmacies and creating the effectiveness of connections with primary care network (PCN) pharmacists com,munity pharmacy clinical leaders, and pharmacists from the community. In those communities, it’s crucial to establish a culture of cooperation rather than competition.
Participants also emphasized the unique perspective that local pharmaceutical committees contribute to discussions. They comprise all pharmacies within the boundaries of a specific area and know the services available locally, such as accessibility, capacity, and workload. This knowledge is essential in making plans, commissioning decisions, and transforming community pharmacy pathways.
Participating in the right people at the beginning is crucial to come up with the best ideas and solutions and to increase the dynamic of building relationships. In many places, general practice tends to be the dominant factor in primary care meetings, and, in many cases, there needs to be more representation from the community pharmacy. A more excellent picture of community pharmacy at this level could aid in bringing these experiences and views into sharp focus. To provide high-quality primary healthcare services that meet the needs of the local population, ICBs must ensure equal representation and effective collaboration among the four primary care pillars, which include general practice and community pharmacy, as well as dentistry and optical service. Participants provided an example of how it worked, engaging in weekly discussions with the ICB and the community pharmacy, and providing constant dialog and frequent contact points.
Assisting patients and members of the public
Participating with patients from the beginning is crucial when establishing services. Discussions about community pharmacy must include local communities to learn about the best practices as well as what is essential to patients, the possibility of improvements, the effect in the way that language is used when speaking to those outside of the profession, and the more significant requirements of the local community.
There are many opportunities to gain knowledge from and implement innovative programs. A shared learning culture could help tackle health inequalities, prevent disease, and lower hospital admissions. Participants have stressed the need for thorough planning, including measuring success and evaluating the results before scaling up and implementing. Innovation should be straightforward and integrated into the uniform, recognized local pharmacy framework.
Evaluating pilots in the academic field requires funds and specific skills, and staff from community pharmacies should be given opportunities to learn and learn research abilities. Evaluation can include cost-effectiveness as well as the experiences of patients with services. There’s also a need to consider how and where to share the knowledge. Proper funding, planning, and evaluation are required to scale up successful pilots. Commissioners of ICBs play an essential part in facilitating the creation of infrastructure that will enable assessment, innovation, and learning.
Community pharmacy systems must constantly adapt as they evaluate, improve, and grow. The latest plan to restore access to primary healthcare expands the options offered by community pharmacies. Changes are underway to ensure that by 2026, all newly licensed pharmacists will independently prescribe. Community pharmacy’s future is exciting, with significant developments taking place across the country, and the commissioners play an essential responsibility to help local systems make the most of the opportunities by establishing relationships with patients and the general public and understanding the local requirements and evaluating and education.
