Bulk of enhanced services made up of four types
Enhanced services statistics were revealed by the Government this
week |
Pharmacists in England and Wales provided almost 18,000 locally agreed enhanced services in 2005–06 under the community pharmacy contract, according to Government
figures released this week.
The enhanced services provided most frequently overall were stop smoking
support, supervised administration of medicines, minor ailment schemes
and supply of medicines via patient group directions, which made up 54
per cent of all enhanced services provided. In Wales, the one most likely
to be commissioned by local health boards was an enhanced out-of-hours
service.
Supplementary prescribing, prescriber support and anticoagulation monitoring
made up less than 1 per cent of all enhanced services.
The findings form part of an updated analysis of data from the NHS Business
Services Authority and the Health of Wales Information Service. Preliminary
findings were published in July (PJ, 5 August, p151).
The final analysis shows that there were 10,580 community pharmacy contractors
in England and Wales at 31 March 2006, compared with 10,441 at 31 March
2005.
The number of prescription items dispensed by community pharmacies in
England and Wales increased by 38.6 million to 713.5 million in 2005–06.
And dispensing fees received by community pharmacies in England and Wales
increased by 40.5 million from 2004–05 to 733.8 million in 2005–06.
However, the average net ingredient cost per fee decreased by 79p to £10.42.
A total of 152,854 medicines use reviews were conducted by community
pharmacists in 2005–06 and 17,745 local enhanced services were
provided by community pharmacy contractors.
The final figures also reveal that between
1 April 2005 and 31 March 2006, primary care trusts and local health
boards reported that 146 new pharmacies opened and 23 closed. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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