COVID-19: This week's updates for community pharmacies

Written by admin on Friday 3rd April 2020

Latest news, information and guidance from NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) for primary care teams (3rd April)

 

This week has seen new announcements, as well as a revisit to some previous guidance to reclarify previous advice provided. The Government enforced restriction of movement orders on social distancing and strict isolation for the identified vulnerable population looks to continue for some time longer and remains the key focus to stem of the forthcoming predicted surge in numbers of people infected.

Please read the following important updates by clicking the individual accordion boxes below:

GPhC this week issued a letter to all Pharmacy Trade Associations clarifying the requirement to have a responsible pharmacist available on-site at every trading pharmacy during trading hours. The exception in emergency situations cannot be adopted as standard arrangements as this remains unlawful. Even in the current challenging circumstances it is illegal and professionally unacceptable to normalise operating a pharmacy without a responsible pharmacist.

Please read the letter below for full details:

This guidance covers the considerations that can be made for the full transition from business as usual to managed closure

At the time of publication, the community pharmacy network has already moved through to stage 3 and so it is recommend focus is now centred around maintaining stage 3 and planning for moving to stage 4

This guidance is intended to act as a guide that all community pharmacy contractors can use to support them as they provide pharmaceutical services during times of crisis.

Full details can be read in the following document:

NHS England has produced the third of a series of regular updates to community pharmacy regarding the emerging COVID-19 situation.

Further details of the letter can be found on the NHS website

 

This week’s letter includes advice on:

  • Key workers new registrations for NHS CPCS
  • NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) via NHS 111 online
  • Supply chain
  • Support to maximise use of eRD
  • Smart Cards
  • Care Home services

 

There's been lots of news across all media about first the short supply of PPE for healthcare teams as well as when is it necessary or appropriate to wear it.

This week NHS England and Public Health England redefined their recommendations. 

Below I have extracted specific points from various lengthy documents which are directly relevant to community pharmacy:

If you wish to read the full PHE document, please see below:

PSNC is working with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England and NHS Improvement to provide as much support and guidance as possible to help community pharmacy teams contribute to some of the many challenges that could arise in an epidemic situation.

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PSNC are now publishing daily COVID-19 updates by email to all those that have authorised this news stream feed.

Please find below links for this week's updates which cover the following topics:

  • Delivery Driver Training - free Buttercups training
  • Easter opening hours
  • End of month submission reminder
  • FAQs
  • Free access to wellbeing apps (Unmind, Headspace, Sleepio & Daylight)
  • Funding update - £300M cash injection for advanced funding released for reconciliation later
  • Healthcare volunteers
  • Identifying patients suitable for eRD
  • Media coverage
  • Message of thanks to pharmacists from PM
  • NHSE&I webinar available on demand
  • NHS prescription charge to £9.15
  • Pandemic Delivery Service update - still no funding agreed
  • Paper prescriptions - must be legally dispensed and not refused
  • Updated PPE guidance
  • Pre-registration training update
  • Preparedness letter for Community Pharmacy - covering protection of staff payment and reporting capacity changes
  • PSNC negotiations update
  • Public message to urge them to treat teams with respect
  • Urgent Medicines Supplies - advice provided

PSNC COVID-19 daily updates:

An incredible 750,000 volunteers have signed up for NHS Volunteer Responders since it was launched on 24 March. This week NHSE&I have published guidance for primary care professionals to explain how the programme works and how to refer patients for support. They are encouraging NHS organisations to start using the service as fully as possible to support patients at the highest clinical risk from coronavirus.

Requests for support for individuals or organisations can be made by any health professional and from local authorities via the NHS Volunteer Responders referrers’ portal. You can also call 0808 196 3382 to refer patients. This guidance will be extended and updated regularly on the NHS England and NHS Improvement website.

Further updates for specific areas within primary care are included below as well as dates of future webinars we hope you will find useful to join.

Government launches Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp

The new free to use service aims to provide official, trustworthy and timely information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19), and will further reduce the burden on NHS services.

To use the free GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp, simply add 07860 064422 in your phone contacts and then message the word ‘hi’ in a WhatsApp message to get started.

NHS support via text message for people with symptoms of Covid-19

Daily texts will be sent by the NHS to new patients who register their Covid-19 symptoms and contact details with the 111 online service.

The following presentation produced by NHS BSA and the AHSN network has been distributed to Primary Care providers (i.e. GPs) to provide an outline of the response needed from them to deliver increased use of eRD during the COVID-19 crisis

 

Keep up-to-date with the PSNC hub page:
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