The Department of Health and Social Care has clarified that community pharmacists will not be among those allowed to issue sick notes, calling the service unsuitable to be provided over the counter.
In response to a question from Pharmacy Business, a spokesperson for the department said that the policy change was "aimed at pharmacists working within general practices or hospital settings", adding: "The intention is that 'where' the fit note is issued will remain the same but 'who' issues it will change.
The DHSC went on to explain that fit notes, known technically as 'Med3', were "not part of the NHS commissioned services" and therefore private providers, such as high street pharmacies, were unable to provide it under government provision.
It added that since "fit notes should only be issued following a full assessment of a patient's fitness for work", it "would be an unsuitable service to be provided 'over the counter'.
The pharmacy regulator can hold hearings and meetings either remotely or in-person in future as the Council of the GPhC has agreed to a change in its rules.
The rules are expected to come into force on 1 October 2022. Until the rules and new policy and guidance come into force, the GPhC will continue to only hold
remote hearings with the consent of the person concerned and/or their legal representative.
Following positive feedback from those taking part in remote hearings, the GPhC consulted on a proposed permanent change to its rules so it could continue to hold
hearings remotely in the future, when it is fair and appropriate to do so.
The proposal to continue remote hearings, including fitness to practise hearings, received wide support with 78 per cent of respondents agreeing.
"During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and restrictions we had to hold many meetings and hearings remotely by videolink. As such we were granted - along with other regulators - a temporary provision to enable us to do this and carry out our statutory role," Duncan Rudkin, chief executive of the GPHC, said.
The community pharmacy staff in Scotland will not be required to work for a minimum of five full days if they test positive for Covid-19.
The Scottish health secretary Humza Yousaf has clarified that health and social care employees, including community pharmacists, will have to follow the guidance
on managing staff with symptoms of a respiratory infection, or a positive Covid-19 test.
While responding to Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour Party) written parliamentary question, Humza said, "If they work with patients or service users in
face-to-face settings, they can return to work if they have had two consecutive negative LFD test results (taken at least 24 hours apart)."
Jackie asked the Scottish government, "what its position is on the actions of Well Pharmacy, in light of reports that the company is insisting that staff who test
positive for COVID-19 continue to work when they are in patient-facing roles and dealing with clinically vulnerable people?"
The Pharmacists' Defence Association said: "This means that Well pharmacy will have to change their policy in Scotland and no longer allow Covid positive staff to
work in their pharmacies."
Governments should invest in vaccines for all strains of influenza virus that exist in the animal kingdom as an insurance policy in case of an outbreak in
humans, the incoming chief scientist at the World Health Organization said on Monday (Feb. 20).
Countries ranging from the United States and Britain to France and Japan have suffered record losses of poultry in outbreaks of avian flu in the past year.
The recent spread to mammals of H5N1 - commonly known as bird flu - needed to be monitored, but the risk to humans remained low, the WHO said earlier this month.
Incoming WHO chief scientist Jeremy Farrar said he would like to see the pharmaceutical industry at least conduct some clinical trials for all influenza strains such
that the world would not have to start from scratch to initiate global manufacturing should the need arise.
"My concern that we're in slow motion watching something which may never happen," he added in a media briefing. "But if it were to happen, would we look back on what
we're doing at the moment and say, why didn't we do more?"
Patient safety should remain a top priority in any healthcare setting. People should always receive the right advice, and pharmacists aren't 'GPs on the cheap.'
Staff should be fully trained, and medical equipment should be correctly maintained at all times. In turn, this helps create a safer environment for patients and
professionals alike. In this article, we'll discuss some of the factors that can enhance patient safety in healthcare settings.
AUTOMATION AND MONITORING
Automating processes within a facility can help streamline operations. This has the potential to reduce or eliminate human error that could result in serious injury
or death. In addition, automated systems often provide instant alerts when something goes wrong - allowing medical staff to react quickly and appropriately. Automated
solutions can help facilities achieve hand hygiene monitoring standards, and it's possible to schedule a demo and see their outcomes. They can reduce staff sick time
and HAIs, as well as Joint Commission citations and associated costs.
Monitoring helps ensure compliance with safety protocols. It's essential for improving patient safety and gaining data on all aspects of a facility's operations. It
also helps organizations track the effectiveness of their protocols and procedures over time. This helps them constantly evaluate and refine their policies, to
maximize patient safety benefits.
ADEQUATE STAFFING
In order to provide quality care, it's essential to have enough staff on hand to meet patient needs and ensure all protocols are being followed. Without this,
healthcare providers may struggle to provide prompt, efficient care - which can put patient safety at risk. Adequate staffing levels should be determined by a
variety of factors. They include patient numbers, the complexity of care required, and the size and layout of the facility.
Britain is looking at the possibility of changing rules on mandatory vaccination for healthcare staff, chief secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke said on Monday (January 31).
"We do recognise those realities and that does open a space where we can look at this again," Clarke said.
Sky News reported Clarke as saying that the policy of mandatory jabs was something that ministers had "always kept under review".
In response to a Scottish government consultation, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has called for continued investment to develop community pharmacy teams and create additional capacity in existing services.
The consultation examines different ways patients access healthcare services in Scotland and focuses on sources of healthcare other than GPs that exist in the community.
The inquiry was discussed with NPA policy leads across the UK, NPA Scottish members and other Scottish pharmacy stakeholder organisations.
The NPA stated that services delivered during the pandemic has proven the importance of Scotland's 1,258 community pharmacies, and believes additional capacity for existing pharmacy services, and expansion of pharmacy Public Health Services is possible with continued investment from the government.
Community pharmacists in England have slammed the government's latest decision to reduce the number of people who get a free winter flu jab in the 2022-23 flu season, as concerns related to Covid-19 still exist.
This follows a letter from the NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) to clinicians, which stated that the flu vaccination service in 2022-23 will be offered to
patient groups eligible in line with pre-pandemic recommendations. The eligibility was widened significantly after the pandemic struck in 2020 to help reduce the death toll from the Covid-19.
With the change in place people aged 50-64 and schoolchildren aged 11-15 will not be eligible to receive the free jabs on the NHS next winter, pushing millions of people to pay for their jabs privately.
It further recommended that vaccination for frontline healthcare workers and social care workers should be provided by employers as part of the organisation's policy to prevent the transmission of infection.
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has welcomed the new research guidance published by NHS England for the integrated care systems.
The guidance is said to reflect the benefits of delivering research, for patients, staff and healthcare system performance, including the economic benefits for the
NHS.
Jennifer Harris, ABPI's Director of Research Policy, said: "This guidance is clear on what good research practice looks like and it's great to see it out and
available for the NHS to use.
"A research-active NHS delivers huge value to patients, staff and the system itself. We hope that putting this guidance into action will help Integrated Care Systems
realise the huge benefits that research can offer, and help make the UK once again a destination of choice for developing the medical breakthroughs people need."
As we take look back over the past year and reflect on what we have achieved, it's also important that we look ahead to new challenges and opportunities that
may arise in 2023. We have seen remarkable innovation across the industry in 2022, from big break throughs in treatment and improvements to patient outcomes, to how
the industry is working with big data and technology. But it's fair to say that these achievements came paired with just as many challenges including a continued
talent shortage, hangovers from the pandemic, increasing pressures to innovate and ongoing macroeconomic challenges.
As we head into 2023, I expect these existing challenges to continue alongside new ones, but I also anticipate more opportunities to present themselves. At
Pharamanovia, we predict that the key trends set to catalyse the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries in 2023 include break through innovations, technology,
big data, sustainability, ongoing policy changes and a shift in investment due to inflation.
Utilising big data and tech
Technology has been recognised as one of the industry's biggest tools for many years, and I don't expect to see the pace of how we use technology in healthcare and
pharma to slow down any time soon. In 2023, I expect that we will see further automation in the way we work, with an increase in digital engagement and healthcare
providers leveraging remote access further.
Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting outlined his plans for NHS reform on Friday (21 April), where he also mentioned a desire to see pharmacies take on more
workload and pharmacists' clinical skills to be better utilised.
In his speech, he also expressed concern at warnings from the pharmacy sector and pharmacy closures.
The Company Chemists' Association (CCA) appreciated Shadow Health Secretary's desire to enhance pharmacies' role in primary care reform but also stated that the
sector is in urgently needs a funding injection.
Dr. Nick Thayer, Head of Policy at the Company Chemists' Association (CCA) comment: "We are pleased to see the Shadow Health Secretary recognise the enhanced role
that pharmacies should play in primary care reform.
Mr Streeting wants to see care brought closer to people's homes and more front doors into the NHS. With 89.2% of the population located within a 20-minute walk of
a pharmacy, pharmacies do just that. They are essential to realising his vision of a 'neighbourhood health service'.
Pharmacies could free up over 42m GP appointments annually, including 10m vaccination appointments.
Urgent same-day appointments for minor conditions in pharmacies will immediately benefit patients by increasing GP access. The first step is for the Government to
immediately commission a fully-funded Pharmacy First service in England.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has appointed Dr Amira Guirguis as the new Chair of its Science and Research Committee, effective from the New Year.
An accomplished pharmacist and renowned expert in substance misuse, Dr Guirguis was nominated by the RPS as a 'woman to watch' in 2020.
Previously, she has served as the Principal Investigator for the first Home Office-licensed Pharmacist-led drug checking service in the UK, and as the MPharm
Programme Director at Swansea University Medical School.
A PhD in Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) detection, she has made significant contributions to the field of pharmacy, to drug policy, and has won the 2014 JPAG
Geoffrey Phillips award for her groundbreaking research.
NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB)'s decision to withdraw gluten free prescriptions for people with coeliac disease across Leeds and Calderdale
has disappointed Coeliac UK.
In a statement released on Thursday, the charity, which provides support and advice to those living with the disease, has raised "grave concerns" about the decision,
warning that it will have a detrimental impact on the coeliac community.
The policy is currently implemented across the ICB's other places including Bradford district and Craven, Kirklees and Wakefield district, preventing coeliac
patients from accessing gluten free bread and flour mix on prescription.
NHS West Yorkshire ICB wants to align its gluten free prescribing guidelines across its five places.
But the charity is worried that the additional cost of gluten free staple products will poses a real challenge to maintaining the gluten-free diet, which is the
only treatment for the condition.
In a bid to amplify the role of pharmacists in clinical services and vaccination programs, the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has embarked on a
groundbreaking collaboration with Aston University.
This initiative, funded by Innovate UK Business Connect, aims to explore the feasibility and impact of integrating additional healthcare interventions within
community pharmacies.
"The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) research project represents an exciting opportunity to advance the role of pharmacists in patient care," remarked
Alison Jones, Director of Policy at PDA.
"This project will be an important part of that evolution, supporting individual pharmacists to have more opportunities to practice and so develop more fulfilling
careers."
Led by the PDA and Aston University, the project will commence imminently, focusing on the Priory Community Pharmacy in Dudley.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) on Wednesday announced that it is spearheading a new project, which aims to delve into the root causes of the
growing challenge of medicines shortages across the United Kingdom and provide solutions to mitigate its impact on patients and pharmacy practice.
A newly formed advisory group, chaired by RPS Fellow Dr. Bruce Warner, is set to convene later this month. The group will have experts from primary and secondary
care, patient advocacy groups, the pharmaceutical industry, suppliers, regulatory bodies, governmental representatives, and NHS officials.
The group aims to formulate a robust report to provide expert thought leadership and support for the wider debate on UK policy. Their work will be informed by a
thorough literature review, stakeholder interviews, online RPS member events, and patient stories.
Navigating the complex world of medical insurance can often feel overwhelming, with a myriad of plans, coverage options, and terminologies to understand.
However, being well-informed about medical insurance is crucial to making educated decisions that ensure you and your loved ones are adequately protected in times
of health emergencies.
This blog aims to demystify some of the essential aspects of medical insurance, providing you with 6 crucial pieces of information that everyone should know.
Whether you're purchasing your first policy or looking to better understand your current plan, this guide is designed to empower you with the knowledge needed
to make informed choices about your healthcare coverage.
Expat Options
For expatriates living and working away from their home countries, having reliable medical insurance is not just important-it's essential. Navigating healthcare
systems in a foreign country can be daunting, and without proper coverage, the financial implications of medical emergencies can be severe. For example, in Dubai
medical insurance for your wife's dependents is mandatory, and in the United States, medical bills can easily rack up into the thousands for even minor treatments.
Therefore, expats should research their options carefully and ensure that they have comprehensive coverage that meets their specific needs.
PHOENIX UK has appointed Harry McQuillan, former CEO of Community Pharmacy Scotland, as Chairman of Numark, a community pharmacy membership organisation.
It has over 3750 members ranging from single store pharmacies to large chains, spread across the 'Four Nations'. The organisation provides its members with the
professional and commercial support they need to deliver exceptional care to local communities.
As Numark Chairman, McQuillan will be front and central of representing the interests of the members, and will help ensure policy makers across the UK understand
fully "the potential of community pharmacy."
Steve Anderson, Group Managing Director, PHOENIX UK, commented: "Harry brings to our Numark partnership an outstanding wealth of experience and understanding of
how community pharmacy can work successfully with government officials and politicians.
With the Pharmacy First services scheduled for launch end of this month, legislators explored the potential of community pharmacies to offer specific
diagnostic and treatment services in the second public evidence session of pharmacy inquiry this week (January 16).
The new service, which will enable pharmacists to offer advice and prescribe treatment for seven minor ailments, is expected to alleviate the pressure on the
NHS, reduce GP workload, and cut waiting lists.
But MPs and healthcare leaders also acknowledged that there's hesitancy and the mindset of 'GP first, not Pharmacy First' among members of the public.
"We must accept that many patients are used to seeing their GP as their first port of call for many health conditions. Pharmacy First is welcome, but there are
going to be some restrictions on how quickly some patients will want to take up some of those services, rather than seeing their GP," said William Pett, Head
of Policy, Public Affairs and Research, Healthwatch England.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in England has published a review of its 10-year Vision for Pharmacy Professional Practice that was launched in
December 2022 in collaboration with The King's Fund.
The 'one year on' vision report highlighted key milestones achieved in the first 12 months since its publication as well as opportunities for further progress.
It identified the publication of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, which recognises the significant role that pharmacists play in healthcare and commits to growing
and expanding the pharmacy workforce, as one of the positive policy developments made since the launch of the vision.
The development of a Vision for Community Pharmacy by Community Pharmacy England, the Nuffield Trust and The King's Fund; work on digital integration to enable
community pharmacists to update a clinical record; the launch of Pharmacy First scheme; and the publication of the public consultation of pharmacy supervision
were other key milestones mentioned in the report.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), professional membership body for pharmacists and pharmacy, has published its manifesto for the general election,
highlighting key issues facing the next government after the election on July 4.
Local candidates are urged to recognise and support the vital role pharmacists play in supporting people's health.
The RPS teams are gearing up to influence government policy in various crucial areas. Their key asks include:
Ensuring Secure Patient Access to Medicines
Supporting a Better-Connected NHS
Enhancing Accessible Prescribing in Local Communities
Maximizing Health Improvement through Locally Accessible Pharmacy Teams
Supporting the Workforce to Deliver Patient Care
Unlocking the Potential of New Advances in Medicines
Supporting the UK's Global Position in Science and Research
Acknowledging the efforts of pharmacists and their teams, Professor Claire Anderson, President of the RPS, noted that they are "working incredibly hard to
maintain patient access to care amid workforce challenges, medicines shortages and financial pressures."
