Enhanced services training to be recognised across north west
Pharmacists in the north west of England may soon have their enhanced services training recognised by neighbouring primary care trusts.
A harmonisation of accreditation group (HAG), set up by the North West
Pharmacy Workforce Development Group, is putting together a set of core
competencies and training frameworks for specific enhanced services,
so that PCTs under the NHS North West Strategic Health Authority are
accrediting pharmacists to the same standard.
Pharmacists who hold a certificate of accreditation bearing the HAG logo
will have their training recognised by other PCTs that endorse the same
HAG standards (see Panel).
Harmonising accreditation
PCTs that have endorsed the HAG initiative have confirmed:
• Acceptance of HAG competencies and training frameworks as minimum
standards for future training provided by the PCT
• Use of the HAG logo on PCT certificates of accreditation
• Recognition of pharmacists who have been HAG accredited by another
organisation to provide enhanced services for the PCT
The first competency and training framework completed by the HAG
is for emergency hormonal contraception services. Services to be
covered by future frameworks include smoking cessation, minor ailments,
needle exchange and supervised administration of medicines. |
Clive Moss-Barclay, project director, North West Pharmacy Workforce,
told The Journal that the HAG — which includes representatives
from the SHA, PCTs, local pharmaceutical committees, the Company Chemists
Association, the National Pharmacy Association, the Pharmaceutical Services
Negotiating Committee, and the Centre for Postgraduate Pharmacy Education — has
been working on the initiative since March last year and has only recently
gone to PCTs seeking support.
Over half of PCTs in the north-west region have now endorsed the HAG
plans, Mr Moss-Barclay said. The HAG frameworks are a set of minimum
standards by which PCTs can assess their existing training — if
it meets the standard, PCTs can use the HAG logo on their certificates — and
that can be used to develop training for future services.
Alastair Buxton, head of NHS services, PSNC, said that the PSNC is supportive
of this type of approach. “The more uniformity in training for
pharmaceutical enhanced services between PCTs the better. Hopefully this
not only reduces the burden on PCTs, but also makes life easier for pharmacists,” he
said. He added that health authorities in other areas of the country
should look at this initiative and copy it if they can. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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