News

Plans launched for seven day hospital pharmacy services

NHS England will deliver its first report on enhancing the quality of care and improving access to seven day pharmacy services for patients in hospital at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Annual Conference today, Monday 5 September 2016.

Transformation of Seven Day Clinical Pharmacy Services in Acute Hospitals” sets out a vision where hospital pharmacy services could operate more efficiently and safely, and 13 key recommendations of how clinical pharmacy services in hospitals can be strengthened  – particularly at weekends –  to benefit patients.

This report for the first time:

  • Describes why seven day clinical pharmacy services are important and benefits patients
  • Sets the context of seven day clinical pharmacy services within the 10 seven day hospital clinical standards and the Hospital Pharmacy Transformation Plan (HPTP) – as set out by Lord Carter
  • Identifies barriers that need to be overcome, and providing examples of how hospitals are doing this
  • Explains what national and local leaders can do to expedite implementation

In a joint foreword, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Keith Ridge, National Medical Director, NHS England, Prof Sir Bruce Keogh and Medical Director, NHS Improvement, Kathy McLean welcome the comprehensive report, which is aimed at clinicians, managers and a range of national bodies.

It explores solutions for national and local health providers, including hospital chief pharmacists, Health Education England, NHS Improvement, Academic Health Science Networks, National Institute for Health Research and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

It calls for patients admitted through urgent and emergency routes, high risk individuals and those requiring a discharge on weekends, to receive prompt medication reviews through targeted clinical pharmacy services in line with the seven day services clinical standards.

To avoid variations in hospital services, the optimal use of medicines, technology, workforce and collaboration within and across staff and primary care organisations – needs to be activated.  In addition new professional guidance for pharmacists should be introduced and solutions provided  for  delivering pharmacy services outside of normal working hours.

Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Keith Ridge, said: “This report acknowledges that at various times some hospitals are under utilising the expertise available from clinical pharmacy services.  Whilst there is no uniform approach for all hospitals, it is vital that expertise on medicines are available to all patients in hospital in a timely manner seven days a week to improve patient experience, safety and clinical efficiency. This is in line with the Five Year Forward View commitment of the NHS to provide hospital patients with access to seven day services. ”

The 10 seven day clinical standards for hospitals  are:

  1. Patient experience
  2. Time to consultant review *
  3. Multi-disciplinary team review
  4. Shift handovers
  5. Access to diagnostics *
  6. Access to consultant-directed interventions*
  7. Mental health
  8. On-going review *
  9. Transfer to primary, community and social care.
  10. Quality improvement

* Four priority clinical standards.

3 comments

  1. Kassander says:

    IFF this is the change which it implies, then whilst it is to be welcomed wholeheartedly, one is forced to add
    And about time too
    I was in an acute hospital recently on an intensive IV administered antibiotic regime to save my hand which was hosting a Hospital acquired infection At one stage dedicated staff were having to ring, and subsequently rush, around other words to try to locate supplies of my medication as the Hospital’s pharmacy was closed for the weekend
    Too long the ‘allied” professions, especially Pharmacy, but also Ophthalmics and Imaging, have been treated as also rans by the so called Doctors
    To echo that long lost clarion We’re ALL in this together and the sooner that ALL, including the patient/s, are a team, the better
    My great hope :
    The turnaround has begun – Dr Arvind Madan
    ”Only when everybody involved engaged with the plan did we make progress.”
    BUT
    Certainly NOT on Anu Singh’s plan to eliminate any possible counter to HER dictats. [Citizen’s future 12/9]

    • Pharmacist says:

      services can only run if funded, if funded for 7/7 they run 7/7, nurses funded 24/7 7 days a week, pharmacy not so!

      • Kassander says:

        Right on, POM Picker.
        To echo the ​1960s ​hit by the Small Faces
        “Whatcha gonna’ DO About it?”

        PP​ want​cha​ to know that ​we​ love you ​Pharmies​
        ​PP ​want​cha​ to know that ​we​ CARE
        So happy when you’re ​in yer Pharmacy, Pharmy
        ​We​ so sick ​​when you’re not there

        ​Let’s ALL ​sing the song now!

        NHS England – ​
        Whatcha Gonna Do About It?
        Come on an’ show us you care

        ​Prime Minister, Mrs May, -​
        Whatcha Gonna Do About It?
        Come on an show us you care

        ​Please answer ​our​ question​ won’t you?
        Please show us you CARE.