2 MAY 2016 TEL:07889412690

The petition has exceeded 1 million signatures ASK YOUR PATIENTS COMMUNITY GREAT THINGS TO SIGN PHARMACY IN THE HAPPENING BUT NATIONALS MORE REQUIRED NORTHANTS AND MK LPC NEWS

Motivation In all honesty it has been tough since January to keep going and to keep Some days you need repeating that the Government’s proposals are not a done deal in each to find motivation but successive newsletter.Renewed motivation came during the Call to Action some days event on April 27th which the LPC hosted at the Hilton Hotel in motivation finds Collingtree. You are never quite sure who will turn up when organising you.Every day, such meetings so I was delighted to see around fifty willing participants. everyone working in We heard that tight budgets are a reality in community pharmacy and the the pharmacy team challenge to maintain efficient and excellent service delivery more is a business asset prevalent than ever as we face the proposals for Community Pharmacy in but currently 2016/17 and beyond head on. Our guest speakers for the evening were motivation may be Andrew Lane (pictured below) and David Simons of the NPA and Zoe depleted.

ANNE-MARIE KING CHIEF OFFICER TEL 07889412690 2 MAY 2016 TEL:07889412690

Smeaton (pictured here) of PSNC. In their presentations all three were keen to deliver the key message that despite the known obstacles (e.g. the moveable Category M goalposts) and “You’re doing a those announced on December 17th 2015 in the joint open great job in letter from the Department of Health and NHSE to PSNC,the network that we are a part of should be confident and proud of Northants MK.” what is currently being done every single day. Support not sympathy As we hurtle towards the end of the consultation period which now falls on May 24th we need to keep the momentum of the campaign going. As well as hearing a summary of Community Pharmacy in 2016 and beyond which was representative of Pharmacy Voice, NPA, AIM, CCA and PSNC , we also heard how to further encourage the public to “Support Your Local Pharmacy.” The BIG petition We heard suggested actions from Zoe Smeaton and I hope that you feel able to give even more to the campaign. Please keep asking your patients to sign the petition to secure community pharmacy services for future generations and then you need to fax, post or scan to return them (A5 prepaid envelopes were provided). Patients can also make use of the parliamentary e- petition.https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/116943

Campaign now to secure your future because we’re stronger together.

Following the event Andrew Lane said , “You’re doing a great job in Northants MK and we will support you in the next steps of the process. I enjoyed the audience participation and On May 3rd NPA took to genuinely believe we can drive new momentum at local level.” Twitter and tweeted “We We were delighted to be able to welcome Dora Shergold and are up to our knees in Rob Mason from Healthwatch and Beccy petitions today! Record White from Public Health, Milton Keynes. There are plenty of number of 73,000 into engagement activities for the LPC to be involved in. I have Campaign HQ, new total been exploring these with Healthwatch since the event and am 1,126,000.” This looking forward to a meeting with them later this week. Rob represents the fantastic has managed to get an appointment at Michael Ellis MP work by community (Northampton North) later in the month and I am hoping to pharmacy teams engaging be able to talk to the office of David Mackintosh MP for their patient populations. Northampton South very soon. You too may wish to contact We will be heard! your MP as a constituent and encourage your patients to do likewise. Don’t expect to get anything other than an automated Hopefully in Parliament.

ANNE-MARIE KING CHIEF OFFICER TEL 07889412690 2 MAY 2016 TEL:07889412690 response though if you do not include your address and postcode. PSNC is organising a pharmacy speed NORTHAMPTONS CONSERVATIVE briefing event in HIRE SOUTH Andrea.leadsom.mp 01604 859721 @parliament.uk Westminster DAVENTRY CHRIS HEATON- CONSEVATIVE HARRIS 01604 859721 Chris.heatonharris.m [email protected] NORTHAMPTON DAVID MACKINTOSH CONSERVATIVE SOUTH (elected David.mackintosh.m 01604 633414 2015) [email protected]

MILTON KEYNES IAIN STEWART CONSERVATIVE SOUTH Iain.stewart.mp@par 01908 686830 liament.uk This provides another MILTON KEYNES MARK LANCASTER CONSERVATIVE opportunity to update NORTH officeofmarklancast 01908 686830 [email protected] MP’s and to seek their support. I will be NORTHAMPTON MICHAEL ELLIS CONSERVATIVE NORTH Michael.ellis.mp@pa 01604 210707 sharing details of the rliament.uk event with all our local MP’s. WELLINGBOROU CONSERVATIVE GH [email protected] 01933 279343 But it’s not just the k MP’s we want to PHILIP HOLLOBONE CONSERVATIVE Philip.hollobone.mp 01536 414715 engage with. In the @parliament.uk next week PSNC will CORBY (elected CONSERVATIVE be emailing all 2015) Tom.pursglove.mp@ 020 7219 8043 parliament.uk subscribers to their commissioners emails to explain the

Suggested template letters can be found at http:// proposed changes to psnc.org.uk/psncs-work/communications-and- CP. Stakeholders sign lobbying/community-pharmacy-in-201617-and- up for these emails at beyond/how-can-you-help/ as well as other useful campaign information. Try also open access to NPA psnc.org.uk/commissioners info at http://psnc.org.uk/psncs-work/ communications-and-lobbying/community-pharmacy- in-201617-and-beyond/how-can-you-help/

ANNE-MARIE KING CHIEF OFFICER TEL 07889412690 2 MAY 2016 TEL:07889412690

Making the news “Petition On Sunday May 1st, The Sunday Express and The Guardian reported the Support Your Local Pharmacy organisers say the story. The following article appeared in The Guardian : Department of A petition against cuts to local pharmacy services has Health has received its millionth signature. misjudged The Support Your Local Pharmacy campaign could become the largest petition circulating in the UK after strength of feeling reaching the landmark figure, with around 30,000 over closures of people registering their objections to the Department of Health each day. local pharmacies.” Campaigners say the government wants to divert investment away from local pharmacies which they claim would force chemist stores to close.

Pharmacists were meant to be the face of the NHS - but now our jobs are at risk

Patients would have difficulties accessing medicines and healthcare advice, while pressure would mount on GPs and hospitals, the petition organisers believe.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) chairman, Ian Strachan, said it was “absolutely clear” that the Department of Health had misjudged people’s feelings towards chemists.

“Patients value the face-to-face support they get at local pharmacies; getting medicines online or seeing a pharmacist by appointment in a GP surgery is not People living in faintly equivalent to the accessible care available in pharmacies,” Strachan said. rural areas often He disagreed with the idea that “putting a few hundred enjoy better health pharmacists into GP practices is a good swap” and welcomed the support from the million people who have but rural areas signed the petition. Rob Darracott, chief executive of already have Pharmacy Voice, said it would be “madness to disinvest” in pharmacies. limited access to

“The vast support that the public has shown for healthcare community pharmacy by signing up in the hundreds of services. thousands to the petition shows just how valuable our services are as part of primary care in England.

“

ANNE-MARIE KING CHIEF OFFICER TEL 07889412690 2 MAY 2016 TEL:07889412690

“Many of the most vulnerable people rely on community pharmacies for medicine, public health services and easily Don’t forget that accessible healthcare advice.” you can follow the He added: “At a time when we know GP services are campaign on social overstretched it would be madness to disinvest in the media. Tweet healthcare professionals ready to help you on the high street.”The petition, which will be delivered to Downing @LPCNorthantsMK Street this month, reads: “We, the undersigned, believe that and use local pharmacies are a vital frontline health service and part #lovemypharmacy of the fabric of communities across England. Find us on Facebook “Under new government proposals, many pharmacies could Pharmacy be forced to close – depriving people of accessible medicines Northants-MK advice and other valuable support from trusted professionals. It would also put more pressure on GPs and hospital services.

“In the interests of patient care, we urge the prime minister and the health secretary to abandon plans that put pharmacy services at risk.”

Mr Strachan’s words are particularly poignant for Northamptonshire which has a mixture of urban and rural areas, creating disparities in terms of health and Keep up the wellbeing outcomes, service provision and access.A good work and third of the county’s population live in rural areas. continue to raise awareness amongst your patients. Continue to share your stories using

You can get in touch with your LPC as follows: #lovemypharm Anne-Marie on 07889412690 acy hashtag on [email protected] social media and email to campaign@psn c.org.uk

ANNE-MARIE KING CHIEF OFFICER TEL 07889412690 2 MAY 2016 TEL:07889412690

Healthy Living It’s time to Thank you to all who participated in a productive and enthusiastic workshop on Healthy Living Pharmacies in Milton confirm your Keynes last month. Beccy White of Public Health in Milton place at the level Keynes has confirmed the plans for the next steps in your HLP journey. Before being awarded the HLP ‘quality mark’ a 2 Health Pharmacy must have at least one qualified Health Champion. Champion The two training dates being offered are 24th May and 8th June. You will need to confirm to moneim.Elhassan@milton- training day keynes.gov.uk who is attending from your pharmacy and which date is preferred. The details in full can be found in the latest news section on the LPC website http://psnc.org.uk/ northamptonshire-and-milton-keynes-lpc/our-news/invite-to- the-re-launch-hlp-mk/

It’s an exciting revised chapter for Community Pharmacy in Milton Keynes and hopefully before too long Northamptonshire will follow suit.

Northamptonshire’s Health and Wellbeing Board has recently published the Health and Wellbeing Strategy for the next 4 years. The vision is to improve health and wellbeing of all people in Northamptonshire and reduce health inequalities by enabling people to help themselves. This would seem to fit neatly into the ethos of HLP. You might be interested to read the report http://www3.northamptonshire.gov.uk/ councilservices/health/health-and-wellbeing-board/ Documents/ NCC149648_Health_Wellbeing_Board_Report_A4_24pp_A W2_NoBleed-Singles.pdf . Hopefully the new First for Wellbeing service will go a long way to helping the County to achieve the goals and turn the paper plans into reality.

Part of the focus is to get more people feeling in control of their lives and their health through maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking and not drinking to excess. To get it right we need to see fewer people with problem drug use and fewer with There is a mental health issues. The result will be an increase in health commitment to across generations. Community pharmacy is listed under “How will we get there?” on page 15 and enabling wider access to a evidence-based range of resources. Anne-Marie attends the Northamptonshire decision Sustainability and Transformation Plan meetings ;agendas for these can also be found on this website. Health watch are one making. platform for public feedback as are the Health and Wellbeing Fora. Supporting Northamptonshire in the ways described in the strategy are evidence-based.

ANNE-MARIE KING CHIEF OFFICER TEL 07889412690 2 MAY 2016 TEL:07889412690 Training and development Antonietta Moch from Brook in Milton Keynes is promoting a free training programme “to love others first we must love ourselves for we cannot pass on what we have not got.” if you are intrigued to find out more about why “Girls matter :sex and self esteem in young women,” you can book your free place for the event on Thursday 26th May from 9.30am-4.00pm at https:// goo.gl/ylRBX6 and return the completed form to [email protected] This course will explore the impact of high and low self-esteem on the sexual health and relationship choices of young women. Polypharmacy

Can you do all of the following? • describe how polypharmacy fits with the medicines optimisation agenda • identify how you could use decision-making tools and strategies to support your practice Did you know • use effective communication and consultation skills to undertake patient-centred discussions that by 2018 , it • develop your own approach, relevant to your is estimated area of practice, to support patients on multiple medicines that three • identify the common medicines that cause million people problematic polypharmacy and patient hospital admissions in the UK will If you would like to be able to do the above and much have a long- more and make a positive impact on patient care, then you need to book onto CPPE’s forthcoming term medical Polypharmacy Focal Point event on Thursday 9th June condition? 2016 at Holiday Inn Northampton. The event starts at 19:30 and finishes at 21:00. There will be a finger buffet available from 19:00. To book onto the event please log onto www.cppe.ac.uk or call CPPE head office on 0161 7784000 during office hours Monday – Friday and quote reference 44784. If you have any further questions or would like more information, please do not reply to this email but email [email protected]

ANNE-MARIE KING CHIEF OFFICER TEL 07889412690 2 MAY 2016 TEL:07889412690

Milton Keynes Community Cardiac Group In my job I am lucky enough to come into contact with some remarkable people doing amazing things to benefit our communities every day. This one really touched me because I have personal experience of a group just like this one. Following a heart attack my Dad was invited to join Grampian Cardiac Rehabilitation in Aberdeen. After just one session he was hooked and thereafter nothing came between Dad and his rehab! He did enjoy the health benefits but the real benefit was through meeting others including the professionals on hand to offer advice. Around the same time, my Mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s .The weekly classes became a release Helping people for Dad and the group support was invaluable to him as with angina ,other he struggled to come to terms with both his own condition and Mum’s diagnosis. heart problems

The Milton Keynes group is looking for a community and COPD to get pharmacy patron,preferably from the area to join the back into the team which has grown since it was first established in 1989. The purpose of the group is to provide a safe mainstream of life environment for people with cardiac conditions to exercise. The group meet in their own premises in again after their Bletchley and are a charity run by its own 450 members. confidence in They can benefit from one of the 10 weekly sessions on offer and each session is attended by volunteers and knocked by health care professionals working to the highest coming to terms standards. The group has patrons from both the local hospital Consultants as well as General Practitioners with their with a special interest in Cardiology. Gill Robinson diagnosis explained in her letter to me that she would very much like to add to the patrons a Community Pharmacist who would be willing to support the service. It would be extremely beneficial to have a point of contact for our staff to check out questions and queries that are beyond our own knowledge level and the information within the British National Formulary. It would also be helpful to have occasional study sessions for staff to update their cardiac and pulmonary medication knowledge

If there is a community pharmacist in the Milton Keynes area interested in working with this very special group Gill would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Gill Robinson, Manager on the direct e-mail contact [email protected]

You could also take a look at their website www.mkcardiacgroup.org

ANNE-MARIE KING CHIEF OFFICER TEL 07889412690 2 MAY 2016 TEL:07889412690

Accessible Information Standard PSNC and Pharmacy Voice have worked together to produce a briefing document to update community pharmacists on the AIS.

The new AIS will become a legal requirement for all providers of NHS and adult social care services in England from 31st July 2016. This includes community pharmacies.

The Standard aims to ensure that people who have accessible information and/or communication support needs receive information in a suitable format.

Please have a look at the update on implementation in community pharmacy for clarification on the requirements and further information.http:// psnc.org.uk/our-news/psnc-and-pharmacy-voice- publish-briefing-on-accessible-information-standard/ Release 2 EPS Alison Patrick tells me that Eskdaill in Kettering will start to roll our electronic prescriptions (R2) using the repeat dispensing functionality. The patient will have had a recent review by the GP practice and will have been advised of the new regime by letter. it might be worthwhile checking that strict adherence to repeat dispensing SOP’s is observed. There is information on the PSNC website http://psnc.org.uk/dispensing- supply/eps/electronic-repeat-dispensing/ about all the twists and turns including for example what to do if the patient requests their prescription ahead of a holiday and how to handle a request for a nomination change before the expiry of the repeatable prescription. Alternatively in the event of specific functionality questions, please get in touch with your clinical supplier. Following due process Sharon York is Assistant Contracts Manager at our Primary Care Support England in Welwyn and asks that I draw your attention to an important point which is being overlooked and therefore causing problems. The problem is described by Sharon and copied below:

ANNE-MARIE KING CHIEF OFFICER TEL 07889412690 2 MAY 2016 TEL:07889412690

Contractors are submitting amendments to the GPhC changing the ‘Owner’s Name’ to a limited company and nominating and registering a Superintendent Pharmacist; plus registering the company with Company’s House. However what the contractor fails to realise is that as this ‘change of ownership’ has not undergone due process in line with the regulations, as an actual change of ownership application with appropriate fitness to practice checks being completed on the body corporate i.e. superintendent pharmacist and directors, the inclusion in the pharmaceutical list and ‘ownership’ and responsibilities of the contract remain with the named sole trader and therefore NHS England and NHS BSA information is retained as such. Therefore whilst their business may be being run under the limited company this is not reflected with regard to the contract and can then cause issues at later stages when they contact NHS England/NHS BSA.

Thanks as always for reading our monthly newsletter. Please get in touch with me if you would like to include anything in future editions or if there is something in particular that you’d like me to feature.

Anne-Marie

ANNE-MARIE KING CHIEF OFFICER TEL 07889412690 2 MAY 2016 TEL:07889412690

ANNE-MARIE KING CHIEF OFFICER TEL 07889412690