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SWINE FLU H1N1
The government today
(2nd July) announced important changes to the way it is managing the
Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in the UK. Go to the
PSNC article for a detailed update
For a link to the HPA website, information on alert levels, symptons,
treatment, advice to the public, a joint pharmacy bodies' statement and
more please follow this
link
2009 Heatwave Plan
The NHS has published the updated Heatwave Plan ready for the summer.
The document can be downloaded via the
PSNC website
New contracts to be entitled
to Claim EPS R1 One-Off Allowance
NHS Prescription Services have announced that contractors whose
businesses were established after December 2005 and who missed out on
one or both of the £1300 allowances will be able to make a retrospective
claim to their PCT to receive the missed payments. The deadline for
making the retrospective claim is 31st July 2009. Claims
which are not submitted to the contractor’s PCT by this date will not be
processed.
Full details of the new
arrangements are available on the
PSNC website:
New NHS EPS Release 2
Guidance
Click
here for the guidance document
NHS Prescription Services Open Days
The NHS Prescription Services holds regular open days so that dispensing
contractors can find out how they process prescriptions for
reimbursement. During the session visitors will follow the journey of
how a pharmacy account is processed. Upcoming dates are below. More
details at:
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/PrescriptionServices/1983.aspx
18 June 2009 Wakefield
5 July 2009 Newcastle
6 August 2009 Middlebrook
17 September 2009 Wakefield
25 October 2009 Newcastle
5 November 2009 Middlebrook
8 December 2009 Wakefield
Complaints Procedure Changes from April 1st 2009
The new Regulations
for complaints procedures contain some different requirements from those
which existed in pharmacy before the introduction of the Regulations.
The PSNC has provided a
briefing paper which sets out the new requirements. Model forms for
complaints procedures are available on the
PSNC website
Cancer Patients Prescription Charge Exemption
From April 1st - See PSNC
article
Pharmacists can
identify cancer patients from their medication and advise them to apply
for the exemption (if not already otherwise exempt). Patients who have
not received their certificate by 1st April 2009 and have to pay a
prescription charge should be given a receipt on form FP57 when their
prescription is dispensed and advised to apply for a refund when they
receive their certificate.
New NICE Guidelines to improve patient involvement in decisions
about medicines can be seen
here
NHS Health Checks - Vascular Checks Guidance
The Department of Health Vascular Team has published further guidance on
the national vascular risk assessment programme. They have also
published a template patient leaflet for the programme which includes
the national branding for the programme - now known as NHS Health Checks
See
PSNC website for links and more information
Repeat Dispensing and MURs Briefing
Documents for GPs
The guidance documents contain top tips for success with both
services.
More details on PSNC
website
Repeat Dispensing Services
Delivery
of this essential service must follow RPSGB professional standards with
robust SOPs in place. Communication with patients is essential.
Pharmacies must ensure that each repeat supply is required and check
that there is no reason why the patient should be referred back to their
GP. Follow the link to PSNC
guidance and documents
Preventing Prescription Switching
Switching of prescriptions occurs if NHS Prescription Services do not
agree with the charge group (paid or
exempt) in which a prescription is submitted. It is essential that all
contractors review their processes for ensuring that patient
declarations are completed correctly. PSNC guidance on how to prevent
switching can be seen
here.
Also, see
flyer for more details
Prescription Switching Compensation for Pharmacy Contractors
Follow the link to the
PSNC news on this item
Patients Association Report on Pharmacy Services
The Patients Association has carried out research on pharmacy services.
The report on this survey can be seen
here
New Guidance, Responsible Pharmacist Regulations
These regulations come into effect on 1st October 2009.
Follow the link to the
PSNC website to access a guidance document and the
Regulations.
Local meetings to improve GP/pharmacist
relationships
LPCs, LMCs, community pharmacists and GPs
are being contacted to suggest meetings of the pharmacy and GP
professions to improve local working relationships.
More details on the PSNC
website
PSNC
Electronic Newsletter Service
PSNC has recently
launched a
new weekly electronic newsletter
service. To sign up visit the main
PSNC web page and
follow the link to sign up for the email list, or use this direct link
www.psnc.org.uk/enews.
GP
Opening Hours
See which GPs have extended/changed their hours
Category M price changes
See the latest list on the
PSNC website
Archive News
Click here
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LPC
AGM—Notice to contractors
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
pharmacy contractors are invited to attend the LPC AGM on 15th
July 2009. A meal is available before the AGM , starting
6pm promptly.
The next LPC meeting is also Wednesday, July 15th, 2009,
at Brampton Mill. There will be a closed session in the morning.
If you would like to attend the open session in
the afternoon (or part of the afternoon) please contact Susan using the
details at the bottom right.
More information on the AGM will
be arriving in pharmacies the week commencing 8th June. Please
contact Susan with any queries.
Email:
secretary@cambslpc.org.uk Phone: 07891 542878
Read Minutes of LPC
meetings.
LPC Strategy Document
2008/2009 A list of LPC members
can be seen here.
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Useful Resources for
Contractors |
PALS - Information
for Contractors
There are Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) in all NHS trusts.
See your local and national websites
here.
Check your Details on NHS Choices
Are patients finding the correct information on your pharmacy when they
search online? Are they even finding your pharmacy?
Find out more.
“Get a Free Medicines Check from your Local
Pharmacist” Campaign
The
MUR Poster to display in your pharmacy can be downloaded from the PSNC
website
Guidance on Recording Interventions
from the
RPSGB
Community Pharmacy Patient Questionnaire
The questionnaire and
guidance are available on the
PSNC website
PBC A Practical Guide for Community
Pharmacists.
Click here for this PSNC resource..
Click here to
find links to MUR Patient leaflets, Asthma MUR patient resources,
Service Continuity planning guidance and other useful resources, many of
which can be downloaded.
A New PSNC
Endorsed MUR Accreditation Course
for community pharmacists has been launched this week by
Chemist+Druggist and Medway School of Pharmacy.
For more information go to the article on the
PSNC website
Assessing Cardiovascular Risk in Primary Care
A
proposed new
course.
Successful completion gives participants a University
Certificate in Continuing Education (UCCE) in Assessing
Cardiovascular Risk in Primary Care
More information
on the course can be seen via
this link
Contact:
debbie.beales@peterboroughpct.nhs.uk
CPPE tutors for your area
Cambridgeshire -
Alyson Winter.
Contact
a_s_winter@hotmail.com
or phone
07976 921097.
Peterborough - Miss FJ McDonald
0161 778 4000
CPPE Workshops Locally |
