Issue - meetings

At its meeting on 20 January 2023, the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee had considered the Community Pharmacy Spotlight Review (minute *90 refers) and had RESOLVED (a) that the recommendations contained within the Report of the Spotlight Review be endorsed and commended to the Cabinet; and (b) that the Report also be shared with the Integrated Care Board.

Recommendation

(a) that Cabinet welcome the Community Pharmacy Spotlight Review Report and thank the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee for undertaking the review. 

(b) that the recommendations be accepted and the Council are committed to working collaboratively with NHS Devon, who take over responsibility for commissioning local pharmaceutical service from NHS England on the 1st April 2023.

RESOLVED

(a) that the Community Pharmacy Spotlight Review Report be welcomed, and the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee be thanked for undertaking the review.

(b) that the recommendations be accepted, and that the Council is committed to working collaboratively with NHS Devon, who take over responsibility for commissioning local pharmaceutical service from NHS England on the 1st April 2023.

(Councillor Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet noted that at its meeting on 20 January 2023, the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee had considered the Community Pharmacy Spotlight Review (minute *90 refers) and had RESOLVED (a) that the recommendations contained within the Report of the Spotlight Review be endorsed and commended to the Cabinet; and (b) that the Report also be shared with the Integrated Care Board.

It was MOVED by Councillor McInnes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and RESOLVED

(a) that the Community Pharmacy Spotlight Review Report be welcomed, and the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee be thanked for undertaking the review. 

(b) that the recommendations be accepted, and that the Council is committed to working collaboratively with NHS Devon, who take over responsibility for commissioning local pharmaceutical service from NHS England on the 1^st April 2023.

Report of the Spotlight Review, attached 

The Committee considered the Report of the Spotlight Review held on 28 September 2022 on a review of community pharmacy services across the County, their value in reducing pressures across the health and social care and the role of the Health and Wellbeing Board and NHS England as the commissioner; and issues faced by local Members in helping ensure proper provision with new and expanding residential growth points in the County. The Review arose, in part, as a result of significant disruption to service levels in several communities over the summer period.

The Report included a series of recommendations for the Health System in Devon with a report back to the Committee on progress within 6 months:

1. That a new Devon communication strategy and campaign is developed to improve public awareness and perception of community pharmacy, which signposts the appropriate pathway in terms of accessing community pharmacy, GP and acute care.
2. That commissioners work with the Practice Plus Group to improve both the level and the appropriateness of NHS 111 referrals to community pharmacy.
3. That all organisations work together to promote the establishment of a pharmacy school in the County to ensure that Devon and the far South West develops its own pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
4. That long term investment is needed in training and progression opportunities for community pharmacy and across all areas of health and social care. That this includes use of bursaries, work experience and the delivery of regular health and social care careers days, which include a specific focus on community pharmacy.
5. That work is undertaken with NHS England and NHS Improvement to develop the NHS App to introduce notifications including SMS texts when a prescription is ready to be collected. Other alternative technologies should be encouraged to provide multi-choice IT interface routes for ordering repeat prescriptions. That those not using IT still have access to a paper based repeat prescription.

Members’ discussion points and comments with the Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Direct Commissioning, NHS England South West included:

• Adaptions that were due to be made to the NHS app including the repeat prescription facility. This work was being undertaken via a working group of Integrated Care Board partners, GPs and members of the public.
• There was support for the recommendations in the Report and issues of lack of housing, workforce problems, promoting and marketing Devon to attract good quality staff and linking with other service areas to do this effectively were raised.
• Improvements in service were now being seen in community pharmacies and it was hoped these continue.

RESOLVED

(a) that the recommendations contained within the Report of the Spotlight Review be endorsed and commended to the Cabinet; and,

(b) that the Report also be shared with the Integrated Care Board.