Agenda item

Report of the Chief Officer, Community Pharmacy County Durham, and Member, Community Pharmacy County Durham.

The Board received a report and presentation from the Chief Officer, Community Pharmacy County Durham (CPCD) Greg Burke, and CPCD Member, Emma Morris outlining the role community pharmacies play in improving the health and wellbeing of the residents. (for copy see file of minutes).

Members of the Board noted there were 124 community pharmacies in County Durham, with 21 in Darlington, which contributed to the whole system approach to support people in managing their own health and wellbeing within their own communities, preventing unnecessary attendance at GPs, urgent care and A&E services.  The Chief Officer, CPCD noted that there was pressure on all of the NHS and explained that community pharmacies were willing to help, however, needed the appropriate resources to do so.

Councillor R Bell noted his thanks to all the pharmacies across the County, their staff being conspicuous by their presence during the pandemic, for all their efforts and continuing hard work.  He noted that pharmacies were similar to Dentists in terms of their funding and asked as regards cases where a prescription may be issued by a GP and getting the prescription dispensed by the GP rather than a pharmacy of the patients choosing.  He noted this issue was particularly impactful on rural communities and where the opening hours of a pharmacy would be much greater than a GP Surgery.  E Morris noted that it was a matter of patient choice, though an issue in some cases could be in terms of paper prescriptions rather than electronic.  She noted it could be beneficial to speak to any specific GPs as regards having the prescription such that the patient has choice to collect from a pharmacy. 

She noted that in the past, rural GPs were often the only option for dispensing medicine, however, times had moved on and that would not fit with all patients.

The Chief Officer, CPCD noted that in terms of funding for pharmacies, there were various elements, a national contract, as well as local funding from Public Health and LAs, and formerly CCGs, now the ICB. 

He noted recent funding relating to ‘Pharmacy First’ in relation to Urinary Tract Infections, under review in March 2023, which he hoped would be renewed.

The Director of Public Health noted the issues raised and as regards identifying gaps and asked if there was anything else pharmacies felt they needed.  The Chief Officer, CPCD noted that recognising the hard work that community pharmacies undertook for their communities, as expressed by Councillor R Bell, was very important, as was prioritising what pharmacies could provide, within their capacity and workforce.  He noted that there was an upcoming session with pharmacies, the first face-to-face meeting since prior to the pandemic, and noted that it would be important to recognise the work over that period.  He noted elements that could help pharmacies could be additional training in any new services they may provide, and resources in terms of providing more than one private consultation room.  The Chair noted that the role of community pharmacies during the COVID vaccination programme had been essential, and they could not be thanked enough for their work in that regard.

Dr J Nadkarni noted the growth in the services provided by community pharmacies and the advantages in terms of a lesser stigma in attending a pharmacy for an issue.  She noted the comments as regards workforce, capacity and asked in what areas they felt were doing well and what area perhaps not so well.  The Chief Officer, CPCD noted a current issue that was a drain on pharmacy workforce was staff training.  He noted that perhaps an unintended consequence of this was leaving a gap in terms of pharmacy staff.  He noted the positive reflection of pharmacy staff, having put their health at risk during the pandemic, and their continued dedication to their communities every day, in his opinion a massive success.

Resolved:

That the report and presentation be noted.