Pharmacists' role in PBC outlined
Image Source/Rex Features
Multidisciplinary input needed to realise potential for service
redesign |
How community pharmacists can become engaged with practice-based commissioning (PBC) is the subject of a resource published by the National Pharmacy Association last week.
Community pharmacy services can reduce unnecessary hospital admissions — a
key part of PBC — through public health interventions, supporting
patients in the community, urgent supply of medicines that prevent attendance
at accident and emergency departments, and relieving the burden on GPs,
it says. These savings can be reinvested into local health services,
including pharmacy-based solutions.
The guide adds that primary care organisations and practice-based commissioners
must ensure multidisciplinary engagement on professional executive committees
and locality groups in order to realise the potential for service redesign
using community pharmacy. Commissioning plans should be developed in
partnership with community pharmacists and other primary care professionals,
it says.
The resource is available to NPA
members as well as local pharmaceutical committee secretaries and other
local pharmacy leaders. It can be obtained by e-mailing
m.mcdonald@npa.co.uk |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
Acrobat
Reader