RPS sets out tests for primary care networks

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has set out five tests for the future of primary care networks, which it believes will lead to better person-centred care.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society building in London

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has written to NHS England calling for community pharmacists to play a role in primary care leadership and for medicines optimisation advocates to be involved in local leadership.

The call comes as part of five tests that the RPS has set out for the future of primary care networks, which it argues will lead to greater joined-up working across healthcare. 

Primary care networks are based around a GP list of 30,000–50,000 patients, and encompass GPs and other health, community and social care partners with the aim of providing personalised and integrated care.

Writing to Dominic Hardy, director of primary care delivery at NHS England, the RPS argues that taking into account the five considerations will produce better person-centred care.

The five considerations are: patient and public involvement; drawing on leadership from the whole of primary care; the value of medicines; interoperability of data; and a greater focus on prevention.

Sandra Gidley, chair of the RPS English Pharmacy Board, said: “Whether it is primary care networks or sustainability and transformation partnerships, as local health leaders start working more closely together it will be crucial to make the most of the clinical knowledge of pharmacists to support patient safety and develop a system-wide approach to medicines optimisation.”

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Citation
The Pharmaceutical Journal, RPS sets out tests for primary care networks;Online:DOI:10.1211/PJ.2018.20205489

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