Hospital Pharmacist
Vol 10 No 7 p280
July/August 2003

News summary

Related websites
DoH Pharmacy Plan: "A Vision for Pharmacy in the New NHS" (more)

Appoint consultant pharmacists, pharmacy plan update says

Appointing consultant pharmacists to develop clinical services, is among the practices advocated in the update to the pharmacy plan, called “A vision for pharmacy in the new NHS”, published last week by the Department of Health. According to the report, establishing consultant pharmacist posts “enables clinical excellence and leadership to be recognised”. The report goes on to say that consultant pharmacists “may be supplementary prescribers or become independent prescribers or other clincial specialists”. The increasing integration of hospital pharmacists into clinical teams and the development of specialist clinical roles is also praised.

Improved communciation between primary and secondary care is advocated in the update, with chief pharmacists being asked to work closely with primary care trusts, community pharmacists and general practitioners. In particular, greater collaboration with primary care trusts on medicines management is also proposed.

The document, which covers all NHS pharmacy services, includes the ten key roles identified by the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England as underpinning the future direction of pharmacy. It highlights success and looks forward to building on achievements. Details are here.