NHS Community Pharmacy Contract Notes

Explain the NHS community pharmacy contract.
Introduce different services offered by pharmacists through the NHS pharmacy contract.

Introduction:
- Established in 2005 and officially known as the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF).
- Determines how community pharmacy contractors are compensated for NHS services.
- Focuses on rewarding high-quality services instead of volume of services.
- Informed by two key Department of Health documents:
- "Pharmacy in the Future - Implementing the NHS Plan" (September 2000)
- "Vision for Pharmacy in the New NHS" (October 2003/March 2004).
- The contract currently spans from 2019 to 2024, with ongoing negotiations for 2025 and beyond.

Key Stakeholders:
- Community Pharmacy England (CPE): https://cpe.org.uk/
- NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I)
- Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
Funding Structure:
- Five-year funding deal for community pharmacies, securing funding levels until 2023/2024.
- The deal ensures pharmacy funding while outlining the expansion of clinical service delivery aligned with the NHS Long Term Plan.

Essential Services:
- Mandatory services provided by all community pharmacies.
- Includes dispensing medications, repeat dispensing, disposal of unwanted medicines, promoting healthy lifestyles, and clinical governance.
Advanced Services:
- Optional services requiring accreditation.
- Commissioned locally according to community needs.
Locally Commissioned Services:
- Specific to some pharmacies based on local requirements.
National Enhanced Services:
- Services provided on a national level but tailored to local needs.

Dispensing:
- Supplying medicines under NHS prescriptions with legal and clinical checks.
- Managing repeat prescriptions effectively.
Disposal of Unwanted Medicines:
- Safe collection and disposal to prevent accidental poisoning and environmental hazards.
Public Health Promotion:
- Offering opportunistic health advice and potentially six health campaigns yearly.
Signposting:
- Directing patients to other healthcare services, managing minor ailments, and assisting in self-care.
Discharge Medicines Service:
- New from February 2021, where NHS Trusts coordinate with pharmacies for post-discharge patient medication reviews.
Clinical Governance:
- Framework ensuring accountability and continual service improvement within NHS. (Includes patient satisfaction surveys, audits, and incident reporting.)

Total of 9 Advanced Services including:
- Appliance Use Review (AUR)
- New Medicine Service (NMS)
- Pharmacy Contraception Service
- Flu Vaccination Service
New Medicine Service (NMS):
- Engages patients on newly prescribed medicines to enhance understanding and management of long-term conditions.
- Covers conditions like asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and more.
Pharmacy First Service:
- Provides urgent supply for medication referrals and minor illnesses, allowing consultations from various healthcare assessment services.

Stop Smoking Service:
- Assisted via secondary care referrals focusing on supporting cessation care pathways.
Hypertension Case-Finding Service:
- Two stages including initial blood pressure checks and necessary further monitoring.
Locally Commissioned Services:
- Tailored public health services addressing local needs such as weight management, sexual health services, and substance misuse programs.

The NHS community pharmacy contract embodies a multifaceted approach to healthcare, encompassing essential and enhanced services designed to address the evolving needs of community health.