Pharmacy Voice Launches Next Phase of Vision for the Future - "Making It Happen"
Community pharmacy's joint representative, Pharmacy Voice, has launched its latest phase in setting out its vision for the future of the sector. The latest document is called: "Making It Happen".
This follows its launch, together with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC), in August 2017 of the Community Pharmacy Forward View (CPFV).
They are looking for feedback from community pharmacy leaders, frontline teams and local partners for implementing pathways for the three future roles set out in the CPFV. They are also calling on the Government and NHS England to work with the community pharmacy to develop and implement the CPFV plan.
Currently, the community pharmacy sector is under siege with an unprecedented High Court dispute with the Department of Health over the funding cuts for the sector and the way in which they have been implemented.
The sector has set out a vision for change and its future role in playing a greater role in the delivery of healthcare in the future, in three main areas:
being a facilitator of personalised care for people with long term conditionsacting as a trusted convenient first port of call for episodic healthcare advice and treatmentbeing a neighbourhood health and wellbeing hub - supporting people who think they are well
Many ideas from the CPFV were recently reflected in the recommendations of the Murray Review - the Independent Review of Community Pharmacy Clinical Services. Now, "Making It Happen" seeks to create practical steps, by putting forward pathways for policy change, professional development and partnership working.
Pharmacy Voice says that to deliver the CPFV, pharmacy needs to:
raise awareness of community pharmacy services with the public, and strengthen relationships with service userssupport local leaders to build partnerships with colleagues across the health and care systemharness technology and secure digital integrationempower the workforce to develop their skills, manage change and work effectively within new structures, cultures and systemsestablish new ways of working and delivering integrated care, supported through appropriate funding and contracting mechanisms
Pharmacy Voice Director of Policy, Elizabeth Wade, said: "This has been a difficult year for community pharmacy. With this plan we now have the starting point for a different conversation about community pharmacy in 2016/17 and beyond; about how we can truly put community pharmacy at the heart of an efficient, effective and thriving NHS. We hope the Government and NHS will accept our invitation to join it."