Two-phase design for Scotland’s chronic medication service
Scotland's chronic medication service (CMS) will be structured in two phases, it was announced this week. CMS is one of the four core services in the new community
pharmacy contract.
Bill Scott, chief pharmaceutical officer, Scottish Executive, made the
announcement at the community pharmacy practitioner champions’ workshop
in Edinburgh on 16 April. “A clinical specification for the chronic
medication service has been drawn up and is sitting with the Scottish
Pharmaceutical General Council for its consideration,” he said.
In the first phase of CMS, patients will register with a pharmacy in
order to receive advice about how to take their medicines, with the pharmacist
solving problems without referring to the prescriber. This might include
helping a patient with inhaler technique or addressing side effects by,
for example, advising the patient to take a medicine that causes drowsiness
at night.
In phase 2 of CMS, the pharmacist will manage a patient with a long-term
condition for up to 12 months. This is where repeat dispensing will fit
into the new contract.
Mr Scott believes that CMS will be in place by April 2008. But he pointed
out: “The rate-limiting step is for SPGC to respond to the clinical
specification. The window of opportunity is open at the moment but it
will close, so it is very important these decisions are made now.”
In response, Harry McQuillan, SPGC chief executive, said: “I agree
this is the rate-limiting step but I think it is worth taking time when
making such a fundamental decision. We have got to get it right.”
A full report of the meeting will appear in next week’s Journal.
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