New UK professional service
August 12, 2011
THE UK Royal Pharmaceutical
Society has issued a comprehensive
guide for pharmacists wanting to
implement a professional program
called the New Medicine Service.
Focusing on patients with longterm
conditions who have been
prescribed with new medicines, the
scheme aims to improve
adherence, increase patient
engagement with their condition,
reduce medicine wastage and have
an impact on hospital admissions
due to adverse medicines events.
Community pharmacies wishing
to offer the service will receive a
one-off payment of £750 for initial
implementation, as well as “target
payments that are based on the
quantity of consultations
completed”.
The New Medicines Service will
primarily focus on four conditions:
type 2 diabetes; asthma and COPD;
hypertension; and antiplatelet/
anticoagulant therapy.
These have been chosen based on
evidence from an initial research
project as well as “on the basis that
these are areas where community
pharmacists are best able to
demonstrate the value of the
service”.
Patients can be offered the
service when they present with a
prescription for a new medicine in
pharmacies, or may also be
referred to pharmacists for the
service by prescribers.
To be implemented from 01 Oct,
the UK Department of Health is
budgeting for a maximum annual
investment of £55 million in each of
2011/12 and 2012/13.
After then the service will be
continued if all parties agree it’s
provided “demonstrable value” to
the UK National Health Service.
Pharmacists will be required to
complete a self-assessment form to
declare they have the necessary
skills and knowledge to implement
the services, and a series of
associated learning programs are
also currently under development
including an instructional video.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 12 Aug 11To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 12 Aug 11
