VOLUME 1 ISSUE 23 December 2019
Pharmacy & Medicines Directorate News “Getting the best from pharmacy services and medicines for better health and safer care”
WELCOME
Welcome to the December edition of the Pharmacy and Medicines Directorate News. This edition of the newsletter provides contact details for the teams working within the Pharmacy and Medicines Directorate and is packed full of different training resources for pharmacy staff.
As we start to enter the festive season each community pharmacy should have provided NHS Grampian with a copy of the pharmacy’s business continuity plan and an emergency contact number for the pharmacy. If your pharmacy has yet to submit this information please send urgently to [email protected]. A copy of the NHS Grampian Pharmacy Festive Opening Hours will be sent to each community pharmacy in the next few weeks.
We would also like to take this opportunity to remind all pharmacies that if they experience an unexpected closure or have to open or close the pharmacy out with the core pharmacy hours then the health board must be informed. To inform the health board please email [email protected] providing information on why the pharmacy cannot open or has had to close.
Our NHS Community Pharmacy website has recently been updated and contains a range of documents and information that pharmacy staff may find useful. Please encourage staff to use the website and please email [email protected] if there is any information you would like added to the website.
As 2019 draws to a close we would like to thank all pharmacy staff for their support in delivering excellent pharmaceutical care services to the people of Grampian.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Pharmacy and Medicines Directorate.
PHARMACY AND MEDICINES DIRECTORATE CONTACT DETAILS
The [email protected] email address is scheduled to be discontinued as the main point of contact for the Pharmacy & Medicines Directorate. Please see the below contact details to ensure you contact the appropriate team who will deal with your query.
Please note Fax communications will also be discontinued across the NHS Grampian network.
Controlled Drugs Team Anne Taylor (Team Lead)
Tel: 01224 556800 / 01224 556601 Email: [email protected]
Education & Training Kay Morgan
Tel: 01224 556563 Email: [email protected]
Formulary Team Fiona Doney (Team Lead)
Tel: 01224 556735 Email: [email protected]
Inside This Issue
1. Welcome
2. Pharmacy & Medicines Directorate contact details
3. Education and Training
4. Buttercups training
5. Briefing: Very Brief Advice (VBA) on smoking e-learning module
6. New Resources: Turas Learn
7. NES Safety Culture Discussion cards
8. Raising the issues of alcohol
9. Community Pharmacy Website
10. Recent Patient Group Directions
11. An Introduction to Chipego Siamuwele and Denise Stirling – Public Health Practitioners
12. Goodbye to Stacey Anderson
Page 2 PHARMACY NEWS P a g e | 2 PHARMACY NEWS
Medicines Management Team Lesley Thomson (Team Lead)
Tel: 01224 556334 / 01224 556525 Email: [email protected]
Pharmaceutical Care Services
Tel: 01224 556684 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] (to be used for submitting payment claims to Craig Marr)
Director of Pharmacy David Pfleger
Tel: 01224 556348 Email: [email protected] DoP general Email: [email protected]
Personal Assistant to DoP Lesley Anderson
Tel: 01224 556224 Email: [email protected]
Thank you for your co-operation.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Date Time Event Location Contact/Booking
5th February 2020 All day Long term condition management Hilton Glasgow Registration details to follow Email: [email protected]
10th March 2020 7 - 9:15PM
NES session Pharmacy First Forest Grove House, Aberdeen
18th March 2020 Evening Event
RPS “Versus Arthritis” Double Tree Hilton Treetops Aberdeen
BUTTERCUPS TRAINING
In September 2019 Buttercups launched a new training programme for pharmacy technicians. This is the ONLY programme currently on the market which meets the new GPhC Initial Education and Training Standards for Pharmacy Technicians.
The new programme is unlike any pharmacy technician programme you may have used before. All knowledge, skills and behaviours are taught and assessed in one holistic programme, rather than two separate courses. Teaching material is delivered through blended learning, combining e-learning, virtual classrooms and videos. Learners are supported by an appointed Buttercups Training tutor and a workplace training supervisor.
Learners are required to have a designated workplace training supervisor (either a pharmacist or pharmacy technician) who will oversee the training and support the learner. Workplace training supervisors will also be required to undergo a short training
Page 3 PHARMACY NEWS P a g e | 3 PHARMACY NEWS
course prior to the learner being enrolled to help them understand their role in supporting learners.
Prior to commencing on the programme, learners are required to be screened to ensure they are suitable to embark on their pharmacy technician training. This will consist of academic, health and character checks. Buttercups cannot accept applications from self-funded learners. The employer is required to support this programme. Learners must be provided with a minimum of 10% of their working hours as protected development time.
Download course information pack via: https://www.buttercupstraining.co.uk/course/pharmacy-technician-training-programme
Contact [email protected] for more information.
BRIEFING: VERY BRIEF ADVICE (VBA) ON SMOKING E-LEARNING MODULE
NHS Health Scotland is pleased to announce the launch of the Very Brief Advice (VBA) on smoking eLearning module. The module can empower everyone to have a very brief conversation about stopping smoking. It will take approximately 30 minutes to complete, and the advice can be delivered in 30 seconds!
Learning outcomes – you will be able to:
o Explain what very brief advice (VBA) on smoking is, the purpose and it’s benefits
o Introduce very brief advice into your interactions with people who smoke
o Reflect on your own role and be aware of the support and services available to help people to stop smoking
The module consists of presenter led short films to introduce the different sections of the module and films of scenarios showing very brief advice in practice. While the scenarios are based on consultations between GPs and their patients, the scenarios can also be applied to non-health settings, by the wider workforce.
We know that most people who smoke say that they want to quit, but do not know how to access support and staff are often uncertain about how to signpost to support. By raising smoking in our interactions with people opportunistically and helping them to access the support and services available to them, any one of us can make the difference between someone smoking or not.
The module has been adapted from material produced by the National Centre for Smoking Cessation Training, to be relevant in the Scottish context, with support from a short life working group. Target audience of learners /end users – This e-learning is primarily aimed at health professionals, such as GPs, nurses, acute mental health in patient staff, physiotherapy staff, health visitors, midwives, dentists, and pharmacists. It may also be of interest to anyone who comes into contact with people who smoke in their day to day work and can support improving their health and wellbeing e.g. leisure staff, community based workers, money advice or welfare rights officers, housing officers, prison staff, police and fire and rescue services. This learning resource is hosted on NHS Health Scotland’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and can be accessed here: https://elearning.healthscotland.com/enrol/index.php?id=558. However, you will need to create an account on the VLE to access this. Any technical queries, please contact [email protected]
Page 4 PHARMACY NEWS P a g e | 4 PHARMACY NEWS
NEW RESOURCES LAUNCHED ON THE TURAS LEARN PROGRAMME
The following new resources have launched on the TURAS LEARN platform.
Pain:
This resource developed with support from specialist pharmacists in pain, to help pharmacists deliver effective pharmaceutical care for patients with chronic pain. This resource should be used in conjunction with local guidance and policies.
This module is designed to: o Help you begin to understand the impact of pain o Help you think differently about how you can support someone to help manage their pain o Cover defining, assessing and differentiating between different types of pain o Explore the pharmacological and non-pharmacological options to support pain management o Highlight the key considerations of a pain medication review o Help you develop an understanding of local referral pathways and resources o Identify which of your patients would benefit from a review of their pain medication
https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/19698/pharmacy/cpd-resources/pain
Stroke:
This resource developed with support from specialist pharmacists, to support pharmacists in delivering effective pharmaceutical care for patients with stroke - the third most common cause of death in Scotland after coronary heart disease and cancer.
On completion of this course you should be able to: o Define stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA) o Describe the different types of stroke o Recognise the signs and symptoms of stroke o Recognise the importance of quick and appropriate action o Understand the risk factors for the different types of stroke o Prioritise patients for primary prevention to minimise these risks o Describe the pharmaceutical care in acute stroke o Outline the basis of secondary prevention of stroke o Describe the range of problems that stroke survivors may face and how to address them o Apply this knowledge in your area of practice to improve patient care
https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/20506/pharmacy/cpd-resources/stroke
Diabetes:
This resource aims to give pharmacists a basic knowledge and understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Scotland.
This resource is aimed at pre-registration pharmacists, foundation pharmacists (any sector), community pharmacists and General Practice Clinical Pharmacists.
https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/20810/pharmacy/cpd-resources/diabetes
Page 5 PHARMACY NEWS P a g e | 5 PHARMACY NEWS
NES SAFETY CULTURE DISCUSSION CARDS
In August, NES Pharmacy, in collaboration with Community Pharmacy Scotland (on behalf of the Quality Improvement in Pharmacy Practice (QIPP) Collaborative), sent a copy of the NES Safety Culture Discussion Cards to every community pharmacy in Scotland. You should have received them in your Alliance delivery recently.
The distribution of the cards is to support the activities highlighted in the Scottish Government Circular PCA (P) (2019)14: Pharmaceutical Services Supporting Quality Improvement: 2019/20 Activities.
The cards are designed to provoke discussion amongst teams about issues of importance to them that may affect how you work and how this can impact on patient safety and your own performance and wellbeing. They are grouped into 8 domains and can be used in a number of different ways;
o To reflect on a ‘safety moment’ for a short time
o To ‘compare views’ between team members
o As a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis
They do not give answers, but instead raise questions. The cards build on what you know already about safety culture – you live it and feel it, and so the cards build on this understanding.
Pharmacy teams may wish to use all or some of the card topics to prompt reflection and discussion on pharmacy practice and the safety culture within their team. It is suggested that as a starting point, teams should focus on the Teamwork and Communication cards.
If you have not received your Safety Culture Discussion Cards by the end of September please contact [email protected]
RAISING THE ISSUE OF ALCOHOL
Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (established by the Scottish Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties) have
published a fantastic new resource for health professionals to summarise the links between alcohol consumption and
cancers, so that they can use opportunities in their work to intervene to reduce the risks.
Drinking alcohol is an established risk factor for several malignancies, and it is a potentially modifiable risk factor for
cancer. We now know that the Scottish alcohol attributable fractions for cancers are higher than previously realised. An
average of 6.5% of deaths in Scotland are attributable to alcohol and about 28% of these alcohol-attributable deaths
were due to cancer. There is strong epidemiological evidence to suggest that alcohol increases the risk of developing
the following types of cancers:
o Cancer of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx
o Cancer of the larynx
o Cancer of the oesophagus
o Cancer of the breast
o Cancer of the colon and rectum
o Cancer of the liver
o Cancer of the stomach
Raising the issue of alcohol consumption with patients can be difficult. However, evidence from many sources suggests
that patients are accepting of tactful or empathetic inquiry about aspects of their lifestyle which may have an impact on
their health. Health professionals can help reduce alcohol-related cancer risks by:
Page 6 PHARMACY NEWS P a g e | 6 PHARMACY NEWS
o Raising awareness of the low risk drinking guidelines and informing patients and clients about the risks of cancer
from drinking alcohol.
o Providing guidance and support to help patients and clients make an informed decision about their alcohol use
through a combination of means such as delivering Alcohol Brief Interventions and making materials about low-risk
consumption readily available in their practice.
COMMUNITY PHARMACY WEBSITE
The community pharmacy website has had a slight upgrade and now includes restricted access pages on the website which are designed to only be accessed by Pharmacy Staff. The restricted access sections will host a range of webpages containing information that pharmacy staff might find useful such as professional to professional contact numbers, the approved list of specials, PGDs and payment information. The information contained in the restricted access sections of the website should not be shared with the public. To access the restricted access pages on the website please go to: http://www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk At the top right hand side of the website home page you will see "Member Login", click on "Member Login". Once "Member Login" has been clicked the login page should open. User Name: NHSGrampian Password: NHSGrampianCP2019 Please note these login details should only be shared with Pharmacy Staff.
RECENT PATIENT GROUP DIRECTIONS
The following Patient Group Directions (PGDs) can be accessed by logging into the member login area of the community pharmacy website as outlined in the above article. Patient Group Direction For The Supply Of Varenicline By Authorised Community Pharmacists Working Within NHS Grampian, Highland, Orkney, Shetland, Tayside and Western Isles, Version 1
Patient Group Direction For The Pre-Exposure Prophylactic Administration Of Rabies Vaccine By Nurses And Pharmacists Working Within NHS Grampian and NHS Shetland, Version 7 Patient Group Direction For The Supply Of Doxycycline Capsules For Treatment Of Uncomplicated Genital Chlamydia Infection By Pharmacists Working Within NHS Grampian Patient Group Direction For The Supply Of Azithromycin Tablets For Treatment Of Uncomplicated Genital Chlamydia Infection Where First Line Treatment With Doxycycline Is Contraindicated By Pharmacists Working Within NHS Grampian
Page 7 PHARMACY NEWS P a g e | 7 PHARMACY NEWS
WELCOME TO CHIPEGO SIAMUWELE AND DENISE STIRLING - PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTITIONERS
My name is Chipego Siamuwele and I have recently come into post as a Public Health Practitioner
with NHS Grampian. I recently graduated with a MSC in International Public Health and have
undergone intensive training on smoking cessation and providing behavioural support to people
who would like to quit smoking.
Denise Stirling is my colleague, Denise has extensive experience working within the NHS, and
Public Health and is currently working with the Health Improvement Team based at the
Healthpoint in Dr Grays Hospital and also out in the community working within the GP services as
a Health Advisor supporting with smoking cessation.
Our aim is to support community pharmacies across Grampian to raise awareness of and deliver
the NHS smoking cessation service. To achieve this, we offer to visit you at your pharmacy and
deliver face-to-face training on this service. This has been beneficial to both newly recruited staff
and to long-term staff members as a refresher to keep up-to-date with the latest information, resources available,
Pharmacy Care Record updates and Nicotine Replacement Therapy medication changes.
We can also inform you of and provide you with contact details and information on other support services available to
you and your patients to receive further assistance if required. Further training materials available may enable you to
promote the service within your community and will benefit your continued professional development.
We will be in contact with you soon but if you would like to get in touch with any queries related to the smoking
cessation service, you can contact us via email at:
[email protected] (Aberdeen & Shire) [email protected] (Moray)
[email protected] and let us know how we can help your pharmacy improve this service.
Also, please keep an eye on the NHS Community Pharmacy website at
https://www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk/nhs-boards/nhs-grampian/ as we will be using the smoking cessation
section on this platform to share up-to-date information and resources you may find useful to share in your pharmacies
and on your own social media platforms.
GOODBYE AND GOOD LUCK TO STACEY ANDERSON
Stacey Anderson, Pharmaceutical Services Improvement and Development Manager, is leaving at Christmas for pastures new. Stacey has been with us for just three years but has made a really positive impact on pharmaceutical care services in NHS Grampian.
We have Stacey to thank for improving the annual sign up process, moving from paper claims to a single spreadsheet claiming system, developing the new website, agreeing the new fee structure for SMS and leading the development of Tier 2 SMS services due to be launched in the new year. She has also led the development of the Make Every Opportunity Count (MEOC) work in community pharmacy and a new pilot demonstrating the opportunity for community pharmacy involvement in responding to period poverty.
Behind the scenes at the Pharmacy & Medicines Directorate, Stacey has given all the systems and processes used to support contractors a review and update to improve how we manage requests
Page 8 PHARMACY NEWS P a g e | 8 PHARMACY NEWS
and queries from contractors as well as updating how the Primary Care Contract Team manage payment processing and verification.
We are sorry to lose Stacey but wish her all the best for the future. The Pharmacy and Medicines Directorate will be advertising for her replacement shortly and in the interim David Pfleger, Director of Pharmacy, will provide support for the Pharmaceutical Care Services Team.
Top Related