Group items tagged

The regulators have added 10 new products to the 'Drugs for which Discount is Not Deducted' (DND) list from Thursday (01 June). Community Pharmacy England on behalf of its members had made further applications to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), resulting in the inclusion of 10 new products in the DND. More than 610 products are granted DND status following checks made by Community Pharmacy England's dispensing & supply team over the past 3 years to ensure fair reimbursement for our members. The DND list is updated monthly by the DHSC and includes grouped and individual items. Individual items are separately listed in Part II of the Drug Tariff. Any items covered by the 'Group Items' heading are not listed again individually in Part II. "We will continue our work to assess whether other drugs and appliances fulfil the current DND entry requirements under either the 'Group' and 'Individual item' criteria and make applications to NHSBSA and DHSC, on behalf of our members accordingly," said Community Pharmacy England.

Community pharmacy contractors eligible under the revised Pharmacy Access Scheme (PhAS) will receive their first of the new monthly payments with the January reconciliation payment due on April 1, 2022. Details of the revised version of the PhAS that commenced from January 1, was published in August 2021, with contractors receiving letters from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) indicating their eligibility in the Autumn, PSNC said in an update. Payments under the scheme are dependent on registration on NHSBSA's Manage Your Service (MYS) portal to provide the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service(CPCS). Meanwhile, the review application window is now open for contractors, which would enable the NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) to correct inaccuracies related to a pharmacy's distance criteria/calculation.

The Pharmacists' Defence Association has asked Boots UK to waive any restrictive clause that prevents pharmacists working with the multiple from working for other pharmacy employers, even after leaving the company. However, the firm is yet to respond to the formal request, PDA said in an update. This request follows demand from the association members shortly after the company announced it's plans to cut opening hours. On workforce shortages, the PDA stated if there was a genuine shortage, then preventing pharmacists from working for other pharmacy employers to make up for the lost hours would be counterproductive and it would further exacerbate any "shortage".

Along with pharmacists, pharmacy technicians in England are now able to perform blood pressure checks as part of the Hypertension Case-Finding Service and deliver the Smoking Cessation Service (SCS). The government has amended Drug Tariff and includes the amendments to The Pharmaceutical Services (Advanced and Enhanced Services) (Amendment) (England) Directions 2023. Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) said: "The service specifications for both services are currently going through NHS England's publication process; when these are published PSNC will alert contractors through their normal communication channels. PSNC resources for both of these services are also currently being updated."

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is doubling down on its efforts to combat online pharmacy frauds, emphasising innovation, eradication of legacy systems, and cybersecurity in its updated technology roadmap. The online sale of medicines and medical devices is a "growing phenomenon offering convenience, anonymity, and lower prices " for the public. However the lack of robust cyber monitoring also "poses significant risks", as many online pharmacies are "unregulated, illegal, or fraudulent." According to the MHRA's recent report highlighting the impact of artificial intelligence on the regulation of medical products, the strategic themes of "fundamental to the successful deployment of AI" are essential for protecting consumers from fraudulent medical products.

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has notified pharmacy teams that starting 1 August 2024, three Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) medicines will be discontinued and will no longer be covered under the NHS HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC) scheme. These are Bedol® 2mg tablets, Climanor® 5mg tablets and Clinorette® tablets. Since Climanor® 5mg tablets have been discontinued, Medroxyprogesterone 5mg tablets will also be removed from the HRT PPC list, as this generic product is no longer available as a licensed HRT medicine. The CPE also noted that Provera® 5mg tablets, being an unlicensed HRT medicine, are not covered by the HRT PPC. Pharmacy staff are advised to check the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) website for the most current list of HRT medicines covered by the HRT PPC. The CPE has updated its HRT PPC medicines list to reflect these changes, which will also be updated in Part XVI of the August 2024 Drug Tariff.

The ongoing pharmacist workforce crisis has posed a significant risk to patients' access to care, medicines and advice - particularly affecting the elderly and vulnerable living in areas with health inequalities. Many from the sector have raised concerns about this issue with the Company Chemists' Association (CCA) recently acknowledging the shortage of pharmacists or pharmacy technicians in the country to meet the needs of patients and the NHS. The trade body representing almost 50 per cent of the community pharmacy sector said that pharmacy teams are exhausted after working tirelessly during the pandemic, adding that Covid, Brexit and NHS reforms have exacerbated the shortage. Covid and winter-related sickness absences are adding to the strain and with Brexit it has become difficult to attract overseas pharmacists to the UK.

Workforce issues, staff retention and capacity continues to be a big concern for the Local Pharmaceutical Committee as it discussed the topics at a recent meeting with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC). The meeting, attended by delegates from 66 LPCs, focused on the current challenges faced by community pharmacies as well as the planning for the next year. Around 64 per cent of delegates said workforce was the top challenge faced by pharmacy contractors, and suggested reducing the migration of pharmacists to Primary Care Networks (PCNs). Other suggestions included - "improving the development opportunities available for pharmacists and their teams, and rebranding the profession to make community pharmacy a more attractive route for young graduates." On the development of Integrated Care Systems (ICS), the majority of respondents were positive about their LPC's engagement in the new setting.

Teva UK has alerted the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to the problem posed by steep energy prices. Teva's UK General Manager Kim Innes wrote to the minister seeking assurances that the distribution of medicines to patients will be safeguarded over what's likely to be a difficult winter. The problems posed by steep energy prices and the potential for power rationing is putting pharmacies under pressure from increased costs and the risk of losing power supplies as a 'non-domestic' energy user, said the company. Kim said: "In our letter to the Secretary of State we acknowledged that the government knows that medicines manufacture is strategically important and that it's a vital component in maintaining patient health." "But I wanted to make sure that the Secretary of State also realises the consequences of the energy crisis further down the supply chain - for example, the need for a pharmacy to have a fridge switched on at all times for storing cold chain products."

Walgreens Boots Alliance has announced the launch of its new clinical trials business that aims to use patient data from its pharmacies to help drive up recruitment in studies conducted by drugmakers. With patient recruitment and enrollment remain key challenges in clinical trials, further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the company said it can proactively match diverse patient populations to trials across a range of disease areas based on race, gender, socioeconomic status and location with its patient reach and access to an extensive foundation of pharmacy and patient-authorised clinical data. The Boots owner also believes that by leveraging a tech-enabled approach to patient identification and creating a large registry of clinical trial participants, the company will be able to reduce the time it takes to match eligible patients to clinical trials. "Walgreens trusted community presence across the nation, combined with our enterprise-wide data and health capabilities, enables us to pioneer a comprehensive solution that makes health options, including clinical trials, more accessible, convenient and equitable," said Ramita Tandon, chief clinical trials officer, Walgreens.

A community pharmacist, Viral Doshi was honoured with the British Citizen Award (BCA) on Thursday (26 January) at the Palace of Westminster for transforming his community centre into vaccination hub during Covid-19 pandemic. Viral was presented with his Medal of Honour by Liam Sargeant, Senior Company Communications Manager, from supporters P&G and TV presenter and Patron of the BCA, Nick Knowles, who hosted the event. At the height of the pandemic, Viral obtained approval to transform his community centre into a vaccination hub. Located in the heart of a multi-ethnic population, with social deprivation, surrounded by wards experiencing high rates of Covid-19. His determination to increase uptake and reduce vaccination hesitancy, led to 80,000 vaccinations being administered, the overall highest vaccination uptake in North West London. Viral is a passionate advocate for the role that GP practices and community pharmacies can play in supporting the health agenda. His objective, to provide better choice and access for the community have been fully met and appreciated by patients. His initiatives led to a dramatic increase in the clinical skills, knowledge and services offered by local community pharmacies around a variety of health topics. This enabled pharmacies to adopt a holistic health approach to working with their communities.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has launched a consultation on whether people agree or disagree that its hearings should continue to be held remotely when it is fair and practical to do so. The 12-week consultation - which ends on February 8 - seeks views on a proposed permanent change to the GPhC's procedural rules which will allow it to conduct hearings and meetings by teleconference or videolink. The pharmacy regulator is seeking changes to enable it to continue to hold some hearings remotely in the future following positive feedback from those taking part in hearings during the Covid-19 pandemic which the GPhC held remotely by videolink. "In cases where the GPhC investigates a concern about a pharmacist or pharmacy technician and decides there is evidence to show that their fitness to practise may be impaired, the case may need to be referred for a hearing before a committee," GPhC said in a statement today (November 16).

Pharmacy contractors will no longer need to print and submit a paper copy of their completed FP34C declaration made through the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal when submitting their paper prescription bundle to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), said the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC). Instead, from August 2022 (for July 2022 prescriptions), NHSBSA will post out a paper Account Identifier Document along with the red separators and pharmacy address labels each month. "The Account Identifier Document should be placed alongside the paper prescription bundle before it is dispatched for payment to the relevant pricing division of NHSBSA," said PSNC. With the help of Account Identifier Document, NHSBSA will be able to easily identify the pharmacy that has submitted the prescription bundle, which will help to speed up prescription processing. "If the Account Identifier Document is lost or misplaced, contractors will still be able to download and print another copy from MYS. The July 2022 Drug Tariff will be updated to reflect this change."

FreeStyle Libre 3 Sensors and Budesonide 500microgram orodispersible tablets sugar free have been included in the Drugs for which Discount is Not Deducted (DND) list (Part II of the Drug Tariff) from January 2024, according to Community Pharmacy England (CPE). Following applications made by CPE on behalf of pharmacy contractors, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) agreed to give DND status to these products to ensure that "pharmacies are not faced with dispensing these sensors at a loss." Updated monthly by the DHSC, Part II of the Drug Tariff includes grouped and individual items. Recently launched by Abbott Diabetes Care Ltd, FreeStyle Libre 3 Sensors have also been added to the Appliances section in Part IXA of the January 2024 Drug Tariff. As the sensors can only be ordered by pharmacies directly from the manufacturer without any discount, CPE requested the DHSC to exempt this appliance from any discount deduction.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has updated the Professional Standards for Homecare Services to ensure high quality care for patients receiving medicines and associated services in the comfort of their own homes. Originally published in 2013, these standards provide a comprehensive framework to support teams involved in planning, commissioning, and delivering homecare services. The RPS said that these standards were updated to ensure that they align with the needs and expectations of recipients of homecare services, as well as commissioners and providers. Changes were made based on responses received through a consultation process, which was participated by representatives from the National Homecare Medicines Committee, the Association of Pharmacy Technicians, the Pharmacy Forum of Northern Ireland, and the Royal College of Nursing.

In its latest style guide for digital health writing, the NHS advises bloggers and writers to avoid using the word 'chemist' when referring to a 'pharmacy' as users are more likely to look for the latter. Likewise, the content guide titled 'A to Z of NHS health writing' encourages writers to use 'ethnic minorities' rather than the more commonly used abbreviated forms such as 'BAME' or 'BME'. "Use a capital letter when you're writing about ethnicity or when you're asking users for their ethnic group," it advises, and therefore recommends writing 'Black, Asian, African, Black British or Caribbean' or 'people from a White British background'. In a further chapter on 'Ethnicity, Religion and Nationality,' it notes that a writer should "only refer to people's ethnic heritage or religion if it's relevant to the content." Likewise, when talking about skin colour, the style guide asks to use terms that are easy to understand including brown and black skin. "We do not refer to brown or black skin as 'dark' or 'darker'." It advises not to describe people as mentally ill but use phrases such as 'mental health condition' or 'mental health problems'.

The lessons from Covid crisis applied in the future through collaboration can create a better integration between GP practices, hospitals and community pharmacies, Pharmacists Defence Association (PDA) has proposed. Stating that a more integrated healthcare system could enable pharmacists to provide effective and more efficient care to patients, the PDA proposed a model where at least two pharmacists would be working in each community pharmacy, empowered, and enabled with two-way referral pathways, having more clinical input and full access to patient records. "Such an environment could not only help to improve communications between health professionals and increase access to services for patients, but would support the NHS to operate more effectively."

Pharmacy wholesaler PHOENIX UK is investing over £13 million to build a new state-of-the-art distribution hub in Wakefield. The 260,000 sq. ft facility is expected to be operational next year and will service community pharmacies, hospitals and dispensing doctors across the North East of England and Yorkshire. In a statement on Tuesday (July 5), PHOENIX UK said the completed hub will feature 22 dock level loading bays and seven access doors to enable the productive arrival and distribution of medical products. It will also be highly energy efficient, including the use of Solar PV on its roof. The car park will also offer 46 electric vehicle charging bays. Speaking at an official opening event held on 30 June to mark the expansion of the company's distribution capabilities, group managing director of PHOENIX Steve Anderson said: "Over the last few years, we have seen an outstanding growth in customer demand for our core services outpacing the market: Wakefield is a prime example of how we are committed to investing in the future by expanding our UK-wide operational capabilities to offer all our customers across the country the best possible service they need, want and deserve.

Tesco, one of the leading pharmacy chains in the UK, has been allegedly accused of forcing some locum pharmacists to accept lower rates or it will cancel their booking. The issue has been brought to the notice of the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) by some of its locum pharmacists members. "Some locum pharmacists who had existing confirmed bookings at Tesco stores have reported to the PDA that the company has contacted them to say that if they do not agree to accept lower rates than have already agreed, the company will cancel their booking," said PDA. "The reported messages follow a communication from Tesco setting self-imposed so-called "wage rates" for locums. This is confusing as locums are self-employed and therefore should be able to negotiate rates with their clients just as any other independent supplier can do. Using terminology such as "wage rates" is more indicative of an employer-employee relationship and could undermine the status of the locum market in community pharmacy. Employees are also entitled to various extra benefits and have greater employment rights."

Paul Rees MBE has joined the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) today (27 November) as its new Chief Executive. Current NPA Chief Executive Mark Lyonette, who is retiring, will remain at the NPA for some weeks in order to ensure a smooth handover. Previously, Paul has worked as the Chief Executive of the Royal College of Psychiatrists for the seven years. On joining NPA, Paul said: "It is a great privilege and honour to take up the position of NPA Chief Executive. The association is the voice of independent community pharmacy and is core to the sector's future success in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. "I am delighted that the NPA has placed its trust in me and I intend to deliver for NPA members, for the sector and for society at large, which relies on there being a vibrant community pharmacy network in villages, towns and cities across the four nations of the UK." When Paul's appointment was first announced in September, NPA Chair Nick Kaye said that they identified him as an "excellent fit for our organisation" after a rigorous recruitment process, and also thanked Mark for his "great work as chief exec since 2018."