Pharmacists have a significant role to play in PBC
The role that pharmacists can play within
practice-based commissioning (PBC) is the
subject of the latest PBC bulletin published
by Primary Care Contracting.
“Bulletin 5 — Pharmacy and PBC” aims
to support primary care trusts, strategic health
authorities, practices and other local commissioning
groups to identify what pharmacists
have to offer in terms of PBC and recommends
steps that can be taken to promote effective
engagement of community, hospital
and primary care pharmacists in PBC.
The bulletin can also be used by pharmacists
to plan strategic and operational involvement
in PBC.
The bulletin says that pharmacists can play
a significant role in the strategic commissioning
process, service redesign and provision,
supporting clinical governance, patient and
public involvement, efficiency gains and supporting
recovery plans, and sharing examples
of implementation.
“Practices, if they are to be effective in
their own aims and objectives, should engage
with clinical colleagues, especially pharmacists,
to assist in the planning, redesign and
commissioning of services.
“While pharmacists must be active in efforts
to engage, PCTs should also support this
process so that better relationships and involvement
are cemented. Engaging with
pharmacists early will mean a better identification
of quick wins as well as a better sense
of the overall direction and vision for improved
care in the community for patients,” the bulletin states.
PCTs should actively share strategic visions
for PBC with pharmacists through formal
documentation and local dialogue. “Where available, strategic pharmacy leads
should be consulted to inform this process,” it
says.
PCT-led planning meetings, open discussion
forums and consortia/locality group
meetings should include pharmacy representation,
it adds. And pharmacists should be
included in locality and practice commissionin
decisions when designing new services.
Several examples of PCTs already working
alongside community pharmacists to provide
primary care services are included as a tool to
support PCTs in the assessment of levels of
pharmacy engagement to date.
The bulletin is available from the PCC
website.
The Department of Health has published
figures this week indicating uptake of PBC
by GPs (see Panel).
Uptake of practice-based
commissioning
The Department of Health announced this week that almost 3,500 GP practices in England (41 per cent) have
taken up an incentive payment to participate in PBC. However, the British Medical Association warns that this
does not mean GPs are actually commissioning.
The BMA’s GP Committee chairman, Hamish Meldrum, commented: “The incentive scheme is there to
encourage practices to put a toe in the water of PBC but does not mean that actual commissioning is under
way. It seems disingenuous to suggest that taking the first step along the road to commissioning is the same
as actually commissioning the services.
“Implementation of PBC is very patchy at the moment. While we support it in principle, we hear of far too
many barriers being put in the way of GPs taking on a commissioning role. If the Government seriously wants
PBC to get off the ground in all parts of the country they need to take a close look at these barriers, which
include significant PCT deficits, and instruct local NHS bodies — primary care trusts — to work with and
support practices instead of blocking the way ahead.”
The DoH intends to publish monthly updates on the take-up of PBC on its website. |
|
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
Acrobat
Reader