Agenda item

The Role of Community Pharmacies in the Improvement of People's Health and Wellbeing

Minutes:

The Board received a presentation from the Chief Officer and the Chair of  County Durham and Darlington Local Pharmaceutical Committee describing the role community pharmacies play in improving the health and wellbeing of the residents of County Durham (for copy see file of Minutes).

 

The presentation highlighted the following:-

 

·         Community Pharmacy – background

·         3 strands of shared local government/community pharmacy agenda

o   Public Health

o   Support for independent living

o   Social capital

·         Community Pharmacy Forward View

·         Supporting people to manage their Long Term Conditions

·         First port of call for healthcare advice and treatment

·         Neighbourhood health and wellbeing hubs

·         Support for the aims of the Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy 2016-19

·         Health and Wellbeing hubs

o   screening services

o   health promotion

·         Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment Action Plan – Collaborative Working

·         Opportunities for future service developments

·         Pharmacy services North East – looking to expand to County Durham and Darlington

 

The Chairman of Healthwatch County Durham expressed some concern about care navigation for minor ailments in that GPs would not get to see a patient if this system navigates away from them.  The Chief Officer of the LPC advised that a lot of discussions had taken place with the CCGs about care navigation and it had been stressed to have a referral back to the GPs mechanism built in to the process, as required.

 

The Chairman said that pharmacies played a very important role and thanked the Chief Officer and Chair of the LPC for their presentation.

 

Councillor Allen commented that there were a lot of services available to communities and advocated for pharmacies to raise awareness and promote what was being carried out.

 

With reference to charging for prescription deliveries for vulnerable patients, Councillor Gunn asked what the views were of the LPC.  The Chair of the LPC was aware that some pharmacies did charge and highlighted that pharmacies did not receive a budget for deliveries and that funding from government to pharmacies had been cut and that some pharmacies were looking at sustainability.  He said that pharmacies would look to continue free delivery of prescriptions for vulnerable groups.  Feedback that had been received so far was very positive and many people said that they would come in to collect their prescriptions in future.

 

 

In relation to the capacity in pharmacy service, the Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services asked if there were any vacancies and if demand could be sustained.  The Chair of the LPC advised that funding cuts had resulted in staffing levels being looked at.  She added that current levels could be maintained and the situation would be monitored, with the option to increase staffing based on demand.

 

The Chief Officer of the LPC informed the Board that they supported care navigation and had asked the CCG to provide information about care navigation to send out to pharmacists.  A meeting had been arranged for 19 June 2018 and would be up to each pharmacist if they would take part. 

 

The Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services asked if there was an opportunity for community pharmacies to liaise with and provide engagement with hard to reach groups.  The Chair and Chief Officer of the LPC said that there was opportunities for vulnerable people to receive visits to their own homes and with regards to education they would like the opportunity to speak to groups of hard to reach people.  It may be possible that this could be taken forward through Area Action Partnerships.

 

The Chief of Staff, Office of the Police, Victims and Crime Commissioner referred to access to pharmacy services for people leaving prison as prison doctors did not prescribe for use on release into the community and this could result in people re-offending.  The Chair of the LPC and the Chief of Staff agreed to pick this up outside of the meeting.

 

Resolved:

That the presentation be received.

 

Supporting documents: