Jeff Gilbert
NHS England is set to pilot a scheme that will see GPs refer patients to community pharmacy, the chief pharmaceutical officer for England has revealed.
The NHS long-term plan, published on 7 January 2019, said that clinical commissioning groups would develop “pharmacy connection schemes for patients who don’t need primary medical services”.
Keith Ridge, the chief pharmaceutical officer for England, later clarified to The Pharmaceutical Journal on Twitter that the schemes refer to “a pilot of referral direct from GP practices to community pharmacies”.
He added that it is expected to “launch later this year” and will be financially supported through the Pharmacy Integration Fund.
On the #NHSLongTermPlan ‘pharmacy connection schemes’ – we are working with practices, pharmacies and commissioners on a pilot of
referral direct from GP practices to community pharmacies. Launch
later this year supported by the Pharmacy Integration
Fund @rpharms
@PJOnline_News— Keith Ridge (@keithridge1) January 8, 2019
In further responses to the 10-year blueprint, Ridge also noted on Twitter that “a workforce implementation plan will be published in 2019” and will be overseen by Health Education England, NHS England and the chief professional officers, which includes himself.
Ridge described the plan as “hugely important”.
#NHSLongTermPlan highlights: Hugely important – a workforce implementation plan will be published in 2019. NHS Improvement, HEE and NHS England will set up a national workforce group which will include the Chief Professions Officers https://t.co/MKIRRyBKET
@chriscuttspharm— Keith Ridge (@keithridge1) January 8, 2019
Speaking to parliament at the launch of the long-term plan, health secretary Matt Hancock said he had commissioned Baroness Dido Harding, chair of NHS Improvement, to oversee “a rapid programme of work … to build a workforce implementation plan”, with interim recommendations submitted to Hancock “by the end of March” and final recommendations given later in 2019.
He added that recommendations will address “how the challenges of supply, reform, culture and leadership can be met” and will be part of a broader implementation plan looking at how the long-term plan will be made “a reality”.
