Pharmacy owners can now begin providing the new NHS prescribing services but there are ‘very large’ challenges around implementation, senior leaders have warned.
Community Pharmacy England (CPE) said that the publication of the final service specifications and amendments to the secretary of state directions set the legal basis for prescribing to begin from yesterday.
It means that approved community pharmacies can start providing the five new prescribing pathways announced as part of this year’s Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF).
CPE said that pharmacy owners have been able to apply to provide prescribing services in the CPCF for 10 days and it understands that health boards are currently processing the applications of a ‘small number of early adopter pharmacies’.
But it warned that the challenge for contractors and prescribers to implement prescribing services was ‘very large’.
The negotiator added that its concerns that the available funding does not covering the costs of delivering the service remain, and it is urging contractors to think very carefully before signing up to provide prescribing.
In a statement yesterday, Janet Morrison, chief executive of CPE, said: ‘In reality, there will be no authorised prescribers or pharmacies to commence prescribing today, but this is nonetheless a noteworthy day in the history of community pharmacy in England.
‘The addition of prescribing to the CPCF is a strategically important service development for all in the sector.
‘But the size of the challenge for pharmacy owners and prescribers to implement prescribing in their pharmacies is very large and our concerns about the available funding not covering the costs which will be incurred remain.’
She added that CPE will continue to work with NHS England and the government to seek funding that covers the costs of this ‘important clinical role development’ and allows prescribing to ‘flourish’ in community pharmacies across England.
Professor Mahendra Patel, chair of the Royal College of Pharmacy’s English Pharmacy Advisory Council, said the new prescribing services were an ‘important step’ in enabling community pharmacists to make greater use of their clinical expertise and provide more care closer to home.
Bu he added: ‘For this to succeed, pharmacists need the right support, including access to clinical supervision, time for developing their prescribing skills, and the necessary systems and resources.
‘Equally important is ensuring that community pharmacy is well integrated with the wider NHS, so that prescribing services can be delivered safely, effectively and sustainably, for the benefit of patients and local communities.’
CPE said that all the documents and amendments to the secretary of state directions related to the advanced services have been issued, ‘providing the legal basis’ for prescribing to commence.
NHS England yesterday published community pharmacy prescribing specification, setting out the legal framework for enabling prescribing capability in community pharmacy.
The organisation confirmed that the updated service specifications for Pharmacy First and the community pharmacy contraception service replace the previous versions.
It added that non-prescribing pharmacists can continue to provide both services using the patient group directions (PGDs).
As of 29 October, approved community pharmacists can prescribe within the contraception service, the seven existing Pharmacy First clinical pathways, and five additional prescriber-only pathways.
The five new prescriber-only pathways of the Pharmacy First service are: episodic migraine in adults, acute otitis externa in adults, seasonal allergic rhinitis in children, mild to moderate acne and mild skin and soft tissue infections.
Pharmacy leaders have said only a small number of pharmacies are likely to start prescribing soon but more contractors are expected to sign up in the new year.
Before providing prescribing services, pharmacy owners must notify the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) that they intend to provide prescribing-based services by completing an electronic declaration.
And they must be identified and approved as an NHS prescribing community pharmacy site (PCPS) by the local ICB.