As part of NHS England’s continued commitment to integrating pharmacy into primary care, we are launching a new programme of work to integrate pharmacy and medicines optimisation into integrated care systems (ICS). We want pharmacy professionals working in integrated care boards (ICBs); acute, mental health and community trusts; community pharmacy and general practice to come together and integrate with ICS work programmes. To support this we will soon be setting out the principles for integration and for realising the benefits, and working with areas to test different models for integration.

Setting the example for joint working, NHS England have co-produced this programme to help to meet the challenges of the Medicines Value Programme.

Joined up working across the system will integrate the new roles for pharmacy created by Pharmacy Integration Fund, such as within integrated urgent care and care homes, with traditional roles in community and hospital to create a whole system approach to medicines optimisation.

The full details of the programme can be found here: Integrating NHS pharmacy and medicines optimisation into Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships and Integrated Care Systems.