CPNCommunity Pharmacy News – May 2016
PSNC puts counter proposal on the tableAn alternative plan to make better use of community
pharmacy going forward is presented to the Government
Contract monitoring update | New script analysis tool | New-look forms webpage
The counter proposalNot dispensing prescription items if the pharmacy teamdetermines the patient already has sufficient stock
Recommending alternative products to prescribers foritems on a target list of ‘costly’ medicines
Dispensing cheaper generic equivalents in place of certainprescribed branded products
Identifying excess prescribing of medicines and dressingsto care homes
Running annual campaigns encouraging patients to returnunwanted medicines
2 Community Pharmacy News – May 2016
PSNC publishes counter proposalCounter proposal tells Department of Health how community pharmacy
services could be used to make the necessary savings that the NHS needs,
without cutting pharmacy funding.
PSNC has published a summary of the counter proposal it made
to the Department of Health in response to the Government’s
proposals for community pharmacy in 2016/17 and beyond.
The counter proposal sets out how community pharmacy
services, including an emergency supply of medicines service,
could be used to generate the savings the NHS needs to make
through pharmacy, without a cut in funding.
PSNC’s proposal includes plans that would enable pharmacies to
make savings in the prescribing budget and to save on costs for
out of hours GP services. PSNC has also proposed payments that
would reward the provision of high quality pharmacy services, in
response to the Department’s aim to alter community pharmacy
funding distribution mechanisms.
The counter proposal was made to offer a short-term alternative
to the cuts proposed by the Government; PSNC still believes that
the service development proposals it made in February are the
right way forward for community pharmacy, patients and the NHS,
and we are working towards those in the medium to long-term.
Further details of the counter proposal are outlined in PSNC
Briefing 026/16 at: psnc.org.uk/briefings
PSNC has urged David Cameron to reconsider his plans for community pharmacy after the Prime Minister told MPs that he wanted to
see value for money from the sector following massive increases in spending.
The Prime Minister’s comments followed a question from Sue Hayman, Labour MP for Workington, who asked whether the
Government would support independent pharmacies which she said were a vital lifeline for rural communities and helped keep high
streets alive.
PSNC Chief Executive Sue Sharpe responded:
“The Prime Minister could have taken the opportunity to recognise the excellent, front-line work carried out every day in community
pharmacies all over the country. It seems, however, that Mr Cameron was poorly briefed by his officials.
It is not accurate to say that there has been a massive increase in pharmacy spending. The global sum distributed to community
pharmacies has grown significantly slower than inflation and rising volumes of prescriptions. It has also grown slower than overall
funding for the NHS. Community pharmacies provide excellent value for money to the NHS."
psnc’s work funDing anD statistics contract anD it
The counter proposal
Petition reaches one million signatures
The Support your local pharmacy campaign petition made
national papers at the beginning of May as it surpassed the
one millionth signature milestone.
PSNC Chief Executive Sue Sharpe said: “We know just how
much local communities across England value their community
pharmacies and their support for this petition proves that. The
public seems to recognise what the Government so far has
not: that community pharmacy teams are vital front-line NHS
providers who can give face-to-face healthcare advice and
support at a time and place that is convenient for patients.”
Consultation background pack published
The Department of Health (DH) held a stakeholder
engagement event on its consultation on the future of
community pharmacy on 28th April. Slides from the event,
which gave stakeholders the chance to discuss DH’s
proposals in more detail, are now available to view at:
ow.ly/4ncBwO
Also, a background pack, including a summary of
consultation responses so far and ‘source papers’ that were
produced to inform initial discussions with PSNC, can be
downloaded from: ow.ly/4n3uuT
Not dispensing prescription items if thepharmacy team determines the patient
already has sufficient stock
Recommending alternative products toprescribers for items on a target list of‘costly’ medicines
Dispensing cheaper generic equivalents in place of certain prescribed
branded products
Identifying excess prescribing of medicines and dressings to care homes
Running annual campaigns encouragingpatients to return unwanted medicines
PSNC urges Prime Minister to consider alternative pharmacy proposals
�
+
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services anD commissioning the healthcare lanDscape lpcsDispensing anD supply
CPAF screening survey to be available from JuneThis year’s contract monitoring survey will be available to community
pharmacy contractors from June. The short screening survey removes the
need for all contractors to complete the full CPAF questionnaire.
The 2016/17 Community Pharmacy
Assurance Framework (CPAF) screening
questionnaire will be available via the NHS
Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) from
Monday 6th June for four weeks. It is
anticipated that contractors will receive an
individual email with links to the CPAF
screening questionnaire on or around 6th
June, if not slightly before this date.
The contract monitoring process was
revised by NHS England with the support of
PSNC. The new process requires all NHS
community pharmacy contractors to
complete a short screening questionnaire
consisting of 10 questions; NHS England
will then select only a small number of
pharmacies for a monitoring visit or to
complete the full CPAF questionnaire.
The timing has been chosen to align more
with community pharmacies’ usual
compliance timeframes – avoiding ‘pressure
points’ e.g. particular busy periods such as
the flu season.
NHS England contracted NHSBSA to carry
out the administration of CPAF at a national
level on its behalf and, during last year’s
trial process, this was facilitated by a secure
online mechanism for contractors to
complete their returns.
The PharmOutcomes based CPAF is no
longer used by local NHS England teams
but remains available to contractors for
self-assessment purposes. Additionally, the
full CPAF questionnaire is available on the
NHSBSA website for use as a training tool
or to allow continuous monitoring of
compliance against the community
pharmacy contractual framework..
NHS England has published updated guidance on whistleblowing
policies for healthcare providers. It is hoped that a national,
integrated whistleblowing policy will standardise the way in which
NHS organisations support staff who raise concerns.
Community pharmacy contractors should already have a
whistleblowing policy in place, but they are advised to review the
updated NHS England guidance available at: dld.bz/eznjW
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has launched a
consultation on standards for pharmacy professionals.
GPhC is requesting feedback on the proposed standards from
both members of the public and pharmacy professionals by
27th June 2016.
The proposed standards aim to promote professional decision-
making and encourage person-centred care in pharmacy. Respond
to the consultation at: ow.ly/4n3Wif
NHS England publishes whistleblowing policy
Consultation on standards for pharmacy professionals
NHS stationery portal ordersPrimary Care Support England (PCSE) has investigated concerns about delayed supplies of Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)
tokens and late delivery of Drug Tariffs raised by PSNC.
It has been confirmed that some regional variations resulted in a backlog of EPS token orders with stocks being drawn from
PCSE’s distribution centres to make supplies. However, Drug Tariff delivery is carried out by CitySprint on behalf of PCSE and any
pharmacy that does not receive one by the first of the month should email [email protected]
PCSE is creating a user panel to support its service delivery and needs users like you to share their experiences and give feedback
on future developments. Find out more at: pcse.england.nhs.uk/user-panel
Healthcare news in briefNHS England to tackle conflicts of interest
NHS England has revealed plans to tackle the problem of
conflicts of interests, to provide public reassurance and
confidence in how NHS funding is invested. The
measures announced include revised guidance for
Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), a task and finish
group to develop a full set of rules and proposals, and a
requirement on providers to maintain and publish a
register of gifts, hospitality and conflicts of interest.
NHS England publishes business plan
NHS England has published its business plan for 2016/17,
setting out its main priorities for the coming year. The
priorities are grouped under the following themes:
improving health, transforming care and controlling
costs. PSNC Briefing 025/16 summarises the elements
which are of most relevance to community pharmacy.
For more information on any of these stories, please see
the monthly updates available at: psnc.org.uk/hclbriefings
CheckRx, a companion
service to Check34, will be
available to all contractors
from mid-June. It uses the
prescription item report
(or Px report - see more
information on page
opposite), which the NHS
Business Services
Authority (NHSBSA) offers
to contractors each
month via its website, to
give information on:
• FP34 payment data
(script type, basic
prices, fees paid,
expensive items, etc.);
• Drug Tariff splits of
items dispensed (Part
VIII Category A/M/C
split, Part VIIIB,
appliances, ACBS, etc.);
• Brand/generic analysis
and product usage by volume, value or
number of items;
• Top patients by items dispensed,
identified by their NHS number;
• Which GP practices your scripts come
from, and Electronic Prescription
Service (EPS) nominations; and
• Clinical/therapy area split (by
item/patient).
CheckRx also provides competitor
analysis, showing how pharmacies nearby
are performing. It will show the number
of items they are dispensing, how many
Medicines Use Review (MUR) and New
Medicine Service (NMS) consultations are
being conducted, and their EPS
nominations, as well as which local
surgeries prescriptions originate from.
This information is all sourced from
publically available data on the Health &
Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC)
website.
Contractors will be able to review their
Schedule of Payments – reconstructed
from the Px report using PSNC’s PRISM
pricing tool – and drill down into the
various sections. Other areas on the
dashboard will allow them to see which
are the most frequently dispensed
medicines (selected by value, number or
volume), and which section of the Drug
Tariff their items fall under.
A script source analysis chart shows which
items have been prescribed by which GP
practice, while another area splits items
into clinical or therapeutic category
CheckRx dashboard, showing the six core areas that contractors can click into.
4 Community Pharmacy News – May 2016
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How you can access CheckRxAs CPN went to press, it was expected the new service will be available to all contractors from mid-June.
The CheckRx subscription fee for a single pharmacy for 12 months will be £144. For contractors who take both services together
(CheckRx and Check34), there will be a £24 discount, equivalent to one month of subscription.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has entered into an arrangement with PSNC Data Systems that means all NPA
members in England will be offered the new service at a preferential rate. It is expected that the NPA will also be managing
subscription sales for CheckRx to any independent pharmacies not currently in NPA membership. Further information will appear
on the PSNC and NPA websites as details become available.
Company Chemists' Association (CCA) members who want to find out more about CheckRx can email
[email protected] or contact PSNC Data Systems on 0203 1220 813 for more information.
CheckRx – a new tool for script item analysisCheckRx is a new service launching soon that gives
community pharmacy contractors easy access to a
wealth of information about the prescription items
they have dispensed.
(using BNF classifications). Finally, a set of
pre-set search filters will allow for
specific searches of all sections of the Px
report.
Clicking on a section of the dashboard,
e.g. Part VIII Category M of the Drug
Tariff, will provide a report of all
dispensed items for that month that fall
into Category M. This can be exported for
further analysis. Clicking on a line (item)
in this report will give all the detail for
the specific item, including
reimbursement paid, endorsements and
fees, and the prescribing practice.
Although CheckRx has its own web
address, it shares the same administration
module as Check34, so users can sign in to
both services using the same user name
and password. Account managers can set
up and structure their company as they
can in Check34. Users will be able to
switch from one service to the other,
provided they subscribe to both.
What is the Px Report?
The Px Report has been available to all
contractors from the NHSBSA since the
beginning of the year. It provides a line by
line reconciliation of what a contractor has
been paid for their prescription bundle for
the relevant month. It details:
• Script type (paper or EPS) and form type
(FP10, FP10MDA, FP10D, etc.);
• Paid, exempt and no charge items;
• Drug description, pack size and basic
price (and SNOMED code);
• Amount paid (at Standard or Zero
Discount Rate);
• Endorsements and fees paid;
• The originating GP practice; and
• A version of the patient’s NHS number.
It is used to compile a substantial part of
the Schedule of Payments (FP34) sent
monthly to every
contractor.
However, the Px report is
not very user friendly! It
is presented as a 72-
column spreadsheet,
with as many rows as
items priced for that
month. There is a 31-
page Transparency
Standard User Guide on
the NHSBSA website that
explains how it all hangs
together, but you need
to be an Excel expert to
apply it to the Px report.
CheckRx does all the
hard work for you,
turning this raw data into
useful business
intelligence for your
pharmacy.Pre-set search filters will enable specific and detailed searches of the Px report.
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services anD commissioning the healthcare lanDscape lpcsDispensing anD supply
Looking for a simpler way to monitor your prescription
payments?
Want to view key performance indicator trends for your
prescription business?
Hoping to compare your performance with the national
average?
Find out more at: www.check34.com
Understand your NHS business better with Check34
Not yet got an account?
Email [email protected] for more information.
How you might put CheckRx touse in your pharmacy:• Identify missing fees/incorrect endorsements (e.g.
Schedule 2/ 3 Controlled Drug scripts);
• Determine which items you are dispensing at a loss
(e.g. branded generics);
• Expensive items reconciliation;
• Ensure supplementary fees are correctly paid;
• Understanding product usage (Drug Tariff category
splits/generic/branded);
• Inform stock management and purchasing decisions
(generic tendering, Non-Tariff programmes);
• Competitor analysis (prescription drift, EPS
nomination); and
• Understanding therapeutic categories and patient
groups to deliver clinically-focussed community
pharmacy services locally.
An evaluation of the Community Pharmacist Domiciliary Visit service
in Cornwall found that nearly half of visits led to identification of
wasted medicines and 86.3% resulted in a cost saving to the NHS.
It also includes a recommendation that the service is commissioned
in all pharmacies across Cornwall so more housebound patients can
benefit from the valuable service.
The service involves a community pharmacist visiting an older
housebound patient in their own home for an informal conversation,
allowing the patient to tell their story and voice their concerns in a
familiar environment.
This service is different to domiciliary Medicines Use Reviews in that
there is no structured questioning; rather, open-ended questions are
posed with a Visit Form being used as a conversation guide only. The
pharmacist assesses the patient’s adherence, understanding of their
condition and treatment, and offers lifestyle support as well as the
removal of unwanted medicines for safe disposal.
The resulting action plan is shared (with the patient’s consent) with
their GP and any other appropriate member of the patient’s
healthcare team.
Funding for the service has been provided by the Prime Minister’s GP
Access Fund (formerly known as the Challenge Fund), the South West
Clinical Network Group, and Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group.
6 Community Pharmacy News – May 2016
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Domiciliary Visit service offers significant benefitsMore than 85% of the interventions made in a Domiciliary Visit service
saved the NHS money as well as providing a valuable service to housebound
patients in Cornwall.
A new national company, Community Provider Support Services Ltd (CPSS), has
been set up with the support of the national pharmacy bodies.
The purpose of the company – initiated by AIMp, CCA, NPA and PSNC – is to advise
and support LPCs and their community pharmacy contractors in negotiations with
local authorities and other commissioners.
The first major task for the board of directors, made up of representatives from
PSNC and the NPA, is to scope, agree and price a compelling offer and prospectus
of pharmacy services to support tenders for local commissioning.
New company to support service development
Read the article in full at: ow.ly/4mRrXj
Evaluationhighlights
Healthcare news in briefPublic Health England publishes strategic plan
Public Health England (PHE) has published its strategic plan,
setting out how it plans to achieve its aims over the next four
years. The report also confirms PHE’s role in building on
evidence, prioritising prevention and supporting local
government and the NHS.
NHS England backs innovative care initiative
NHS England has announced it will invest £1.75m in a new,
innovative ‘Shared Lives’ model. The family-based initiative
aims to support more people being cared for in a home, rather
than a hospital, by matching people with special needs to a
Shared Lives carer.
30.5%of patients are likely to haveavoided a hospital admission
Nearly half of patientshad wasted or excess medicines
One in 20were within the classes of vulnerable
to severely frail
86.3%of visits resulted
in a cost saving
New PSNC RegionalRepresentative elected
Sunil Kochhar, Vice Chair of Kent LPC, has
been elected as PSNC’s South East Coast
regional representative.
PSNC would like to welcome Sunil to the
team and very much look forward to
working closely with him to promote
community pharmacy in England.
psnc.org.uk 7
Dispensing anD supply services anD commissioning the healthcare lanDscapecontract anD it
Making the Accessible InformationStandard work for you
The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) has developed a programme to support
community pharmacy teams in implementing the Accessible Information Standard.
We are launching an e-learning programme aimed at helping you and your pharmacy team to
implement the Accessible Information Standard, which is mandatory by 31st July 2016. Preparations
should already be underway in community pharmacies so this e-learning’s arrival is timely and
relevant.
Accessible Information Standard – making it work helps pharmacy teams through the five-step
approach given in the Standard’s requirements. Teams must elicit, record, flag, share and meet the
communication needs of all their customers and patients.
It also requires pharmacists and their teams to meet the communication needs of everyone with
whom they come into contact, at first registration and at every contact thereafter. The Standard is
aimed particularly at people with some sensory loss such as hearing and sight.
The requirement further stretches pharmacy teams
and their resources, so our e-learning programme
suggests meeting to discuss the development of a
standard operating procedure and to decide who will
be responsible for taking the lead on the Standard’s
implementation.
The programme follows each of the five steps, considering the requirements, what
this means for pharmacy teams, and suggesting how pharmacy teams may meet the
requirements. It also provides substantial signposting to useful resources.
This new CPPE e-learning programme was developed following Hertfordshire LPC
successfully winning an implementation bid from NHS England.
You can access the e-learning by logging into the CPPE website at:
www.cppe.ac.uk/ais (please note you may need to register for access).
Geraldine FlavellRegional Manager,
West Midlands
“
Briefing published on Accessible Information StandardPSNC and Pharmacy Voice have produced a
briefing on the Accessible Information
Standard.
NHS England's new Standard will become a
legal requirement for providers of NHS and
social care services in England, including
community pharmacies, on 31st July 2016.
The purpose of the joint briefing is to
update community pharmacy contractors
on the requirements of this Standard, as
well as explaining what steps they need to
take next.
Download the PSNC and Pharmacy Voice
briefing from: ow.ly/4n6Y11
Links to further resources
NHS England’s Accessible Information
Standard webpage:
www.england.nhs.uk/accessibleinfo
An interactive programme on
implementing the Standard:
tinyurl.com/AISprogramme
New consultationskills programmeCPPE has launched an interactive,
video-based course called
Consultation skills: what good practice
looks like.
The programme allows the learner to
watch experts demonstrate what a
patient-centred approach is by
showcasing key skills and behaviours.
Find out more about this course at:
dld.bz/exPVy
Intelligence packs offer prevention opportunities
The National Cardiovascular Intelligence Network has launched
the second edition of its Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Primary
Care Intelligence Packs. The packs are a resource for Clinical
Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and practices to help improve
health outcomes in CVD by identifying gaps in primary care.
Three million benefit from new NHS programme
Three million patients have begun accessing apps, devices and
online networks from the NHS Innovation Accelerator
programme. The programme gives innovators support to roll
out their technology or service.
For more information on any of these stories, please see the monthly updates available at: psnc.org.uk/hclbriefings
“
8 Community Pharmacy News – May 2016
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In this section of Community Pharmacy News we have highlighted some keynotices for you and your team to be aware of in the coming weeks and months.
Pharmacy notice board
Hints & Tips for dispensing contractorsThe latest issue (number 23) of the Pricing Authority’s Hints & Tips for dispensingcontractors newsletter contains some really useful information on:
Accessing links for Drug Tariff Part IX as csv and Excel files;Claiming out of pocket expenses;Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) exemption/charge paid status;Excessive quantities in EPS Release 2; and The end of month submission process, including EPS Release 2 claims.
You can read issue 23 on the Pricing Authority’s website: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/3191.aspx
Research bursary openfor applicationsPharmacists have until 30th Juneto apply for the National Pharmacy Association'sHealth Education Foundation bursary forresearch in community pharmacy practice.Find out more and download your applicationpack here: ow.ly/4mQApe
A practical guide for carersA guide encouraging carers to check with their local pharmacy about services that might help makelife easier has been published by NHS England, in partnership with Carers UK, Carers Trust, Age UK,Public Health England and older carers themselves.
The guide aims to provide carers with advice, hints and tips on a range of issues they may face suchas how to cope with caring for someone, getting help and using technology. Case studies are featuredin the guide as well as a list of useful contacts and an action plan for carers.
Pharmacy teams can order free copies of the guide to provide to carers by phoning Prolog on 0300123 1002, quoting reference HC1, or online at: www.orderline.dh.gov.uk
PSNC Leadership Academy updateThe PSNC Leadership Academy trainees had their second training day
in London on 19th April.
‘Managing and leading through change’ was the theme for the day –
particularly apt for those working in the community pharmacy
sector at the moment.
PSNC will be talking to some of the candidates in more depth next
month.
Change to PricingAuthority’s email address
The Pricing Authority has changed its main
customer enquiries email address to:
Their old email address, ending in
@nhs.net is now no longer in use
and is not being monitored.
Community pharmacy contractors will see a ‘year to
date total’ of Medicines Use Review (MUR) claims
on their monthly FP34 Schedule of Payments from
April 2016.
The ‘year to date total’ has been introduced to
assist contractors with monitoring the number of
MURs claimed during the financial year.
NHS England has contracted the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) to take
on the role of monitoring MUR activity and recovering payments from contractors
for any claims made in excess of the 400 limit for each financial year.
Contractors who claim for more than 400 MURs will receive a letter from NHSBSA
stating the cumulative total of MURs claimed, the value of the payment to be
recovered and notice of the recovery date.
psnc.org.uk 9
services anD commissioning the healthcare lanDscape lpcsDispensing anD supply
Have you seen our new-look prescription forms page?
Cumulative MUR total added to Schedule of Payments
Year to date totals to be included on the FP34 Schedule of Payments for the
first time to support monitoring of MURs claimed over the financial year.
Healthcare newsin briefProgress in health devolution
The Local Government Association has
published a briefing document outlining the
broad lessons that can be learnt from
Greater Manchester’s experience of health
devolution. It also discusses the positives,
ongoing challenges and key themes from
the devolution roundtable discussions.
Older People’s Health and Wellbeing
Public Health England has published the
Older People’s Health and Wellbeing
Profile, a tool which can be used to examine
the health and care of older people across
local authorities in England. The tool
contains 95 interactive indicators and allows
comparison and monitoring of trends in
different regions.
Sustainability and Transformation
Regional Voices has published a short
briefing explaining Sustainability and
Transformation Plans and their role in
delivering the NHS Five-Year Forward View.
It also provides guidance on how to get
involved in local areas.
For more information on any of these stories,
please see the monthly updates available at:
psnc.org.uk/hclbriefings
The PSNC Dispensing and Supply Team is currently in the process of updating the
pages in the Dispensing and Supply section of the PSNC website.
The updated ‘Is this prescription form valid?’ page provides information on which
form types are valid, who they are used by and much more. See below for a look at
our new easy to use chart.
Head over there now using our shortlink: psnc.org.uk/prescriptionforms
Changes to Part VIIIBA number of products were added to Part
VIIIB of the Drug Tariff in May 2016, namely:
• Pizotifen 250micrograms/5ml oral
solution;
• Pizotifen 250micrograms/5ml oral
suspension;
• Pyridostigmine bromide 50mg/5ml oral
suspension; and
• Tamsulosin 400micrograms/5ml oral
suspension.
A full list of products and new
reimbursement prices can be found in Part
VIIIB of the May 2016 Drug Tariff.
The listings for four Part VIIIA entries of Midazolam oromucosal
solution pre-filled oral syringes changed from 1st May 2016 to
recognise the sugar-free (SF) status of this product. The listings
were deleted from the Drug Tariff and replaced with SF versions.
The Department of Health has granted a concession period for
the month of May to avoid confusion amongst prescribers and
pharmacy teams, and to allow time for system suppliers to
update their systems. Prescriptions written with the old
description will continue to be reimbursed against Buccolam or
based on endorsement if an ‘unlicensed special’ is supplied during
this time. The concession has been put in place to avoid
prescriptions being returned to pharmacies for clarification which
could lead to a delay in payment.
From 1st June 2016, contractors need to ensure that any
prescription written generically for Midazolam oromucosal
solution pre-filled oral syringes reads as per the new name.
Previous name (deleted) New name (added)
Midazolam 10mg/2ml oromucosal solution pre-filled oral syringes Midazolam 10mg/2ml oromucosal solution pre-filled oralsyringes SF
Midazolam 2.5mg/0.5ml oromucosal solution pre-filled oralsyringes
Midazolam 2.5mg/0.5ml oromucosal solution pre-filled oralsyringes SF
Midazolam 5mg/1ml oromucosal solution pre-filled oral syringes Midazolam 5mg/1ml oromucosal solution pre-filled oralsyringes SF
Midazolam 7.5mg/1.5ml oromucosal solution pre-filled oralsyringes
Midazolam 7.5mg/1.5ml oromucosal solution pre-filled oralsyringes SF
10 Community Pharmacy News – May 2016
Dispensing anD supply services anD commissioning the healthcare lanDscape lpcs
Community pharmacy teams must check whether the items prescribed on NHS prescriptions are allowed on the NHS before dispensing them. Thecontractor will not be paid for them if they are not allowed.
Pharmacy teams may wish to check PSNC’s ‘Dispensing on an FP10 database’ (available at: psnc.org.uk/FP10database) for more information onwhether an item can be dispensed on an FP10. Below is a list of some products that we have recently received queries about.
Product Is the item Is it Does it Can it be Additional listed in the in the have a ‘CE’ dispensed information Drug Tariff? blacklist? mark? on an FP10?
Please note: If the prescription is one of the following, pharmacy staff will need to check the relevant sections of the Drug Tariff/PSNC website:
• FP10CN or FP10PN (community nurse prescriber) – Part XVIIB
• FP10D (dental prescriber) – Part XVIIA
• FP10MDA (instalment dispensing) – psnc.org.uk/mda
Can it be dispensed on an FP10?
Tubegauz stockinette (all
sizes)
UltraDEX Oral Rinse
Dexcom G5 Mobile
Continuous Glucose
Monitoring System
Sterile polythene jug 1ltr
AirLife sterile water for
inhalation
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
n/a
No
n/a
n/a
n/a
No
Yes
No
No
No
This item is a medical device (CE marked) and is not listed
in Part IX of the Drug Tariff.
This item is not a medical device (CE marked) and does
not appear in Part XVIIIA (the ‘blacklist’) of the Drug Tariff.
This item is a medical device (CE marked) and is not listed
in Part IX of the Drug Tariff.
This item is a medical device (CE marked) and is not listed
in Part IX of the Drug Tariff.
This item is a medical device (CE marked) and is not listed
in Part IX of the Drug Tariff.
Drug Tariff listing change for MidazolamCommunity pharmacy contractors should be aware of
changes made to the May Drug Tariff and the Dictionary
of Medicines and Devices (dm+d) listings for Midazolam
oromucosal solution pre-filled oral syringes.
If you would like more information on any of the topics covered, the PSNC Dispensing and Supply Team will be happy to help (0844 381 4180 or 0203 1220 810 or e-mail [email protected]).
psnc.org.uk 11
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All details correct at time of printing.
No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of PSNC.
Produced for PSNC by Communications International Group. ©. PSNC.
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Ask PSNCThe PSNC Dispensing and Supply Team can provide pharmacy teams with
support and advice on a range of topics related to the Drug Tariff and
reimbursement. Questions asked in recent months have included:
Q. If a prescription was dispensed before1st April but the patient didn't collect ituntil after 1st April, should the patientpay the old or new prescription charge?
Q. A patient has ticked the maternity exemptionbox on the back of their prescription, but they haveonly applied for a maternity exemption certificatetoday. Can the patient claim the exemption orshould they pay the prescription charge?
A. There is no national guidance on this issue so pharmacy staff willbe required to exercise their professional judgement. Whatever thedecision, pharmacy staff are advised to record the charge made andthe reasons for doing so on the patient’s medication record.
A. The patient should pay for their prescription and be issuedwith an FP57 (Receipt and Refund Form) so that they may claimback the charges once they receive their maternity exemptioncertificate. Details of prescription charge refunds and the claimprocedure can be found on our website: psnc.org.uk/refunds
Q. Do I need to display a noticeabout the NHS prescription charge? A. Yes, it is part of your Terms of Service to have a notice in the prescription
reception area about the NHS prescription charge. For further information,please see the clinical governance approved particulars for premises (availablefrom: psnc.org.uk/cg).
Health Committee says primarycare is under strain
The House of Commons Health
Committee has published a report,
Primary Care, which sets out the
challenges faced by primary care and
analyses long-term solutions to drive
improvements in patient care. The
report also examines patients’ and the
workforce’s experience of primary care,
the new models of care, building the
new primary care team and funding.
Charity proposes assessment ofNHS funding
The Patients Association has announced
proposals to establish an independent
commission to examine funding levels
against the current and future needs of
the NHS and social care. The commission
will consider how much to spend as a
society, as well as possible sources of
additional funding, using the principle of
free treatment at the point of care as a
starting point.
Prescription figures published
The Health & Social Care Information
Centre (HSCIC) has published its
Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) report,
providing data on all prescriptions
dispensed in the community across
England. The 2015 PCA report states
1.08bn prescription items were
dispensed (up by 1.8%) at a cost of
£9.27bn (up by 4.7%).
Healthcare news in brief
For more information on any of these stories, please see the monthly updates available at: psnc.org.uk/hclbriefings
Dispensing anD supply services anD commissioning the healthcare lanDscape
PSNC websiteFor up to date information and news on community pharmacy issues, visit the PSNC website at psnc.org.uk
PSNC Community Pharmacy News is published by:The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, Times House, 5 Bravingtons Walk, London N1 9AWCommunity Pharmacy News is edited by:Melinda Mabbutt who can be contacted at the above address or by email at: [email protected] © PSNCPSNC Office: 0844 381 4180 or 0203 122 0810
Drug Tariff WatchThe Preface lists additions, deletions and alterations to the Drug Tariff. Below is a quick summary of
the changes due to take place from 1st June 2016. You may also wish to see our Dispensing Factsheet:
The Drug Tariff Preface at: psnc.org.uk/dtresources
SC Special Container
* This pack only (others already available)
Part VIIIA additions
Category A:
• Atropine 1mg/1ml solution for injection
ampoules (10)
• Atropine 400micrograms/1ml solution
for injection ampoules (10)
• Timolol 10mg / Bendroflumethiazide
2.5mg tablets (30)
Category C:
• Adrenaline (base) 300micrograms/0.3ml
(1 in 1,000) solution for injection pre-
filled disposable devices SC (1) – EpiPen
• Lidocaine 4% cream SC 5g – LMX 4
• Liquid paraffin light 63.4% bath
additive SC (150ml) – Oilatum Bath
Formula
• Liquid paraffin light 63.4% bath
additive SC (250ml) – Oilatum Emollient
• Liquid paraffin light 63.4% bath
additive SC (300ml) – Oilatum Bath
Formula
• Liquid paraffin light 63.4% bath
additive SC (500ml) – Oilatum Emollient
• Liquid paraffin light 63.4% bath
additive SC (600ml) – Oilatum Junior
• *Mesalazine 800mg gastro-resistant
tablets (84) – Asacol MR
• Riluzole 25mg/5ml oral suspension sugar
free (300ml) – Teglutik
• White soft paraffin 15% / Liquid paraffin
light 6% cream SC (50g) – Oilatum
• White soft paraffin 15% / Liquid
paraffin light 6% cream SC (150g) –
Oilatum
• White soft paraffin 15% / Liquid paraffin
light 6% cream SC (350ml) – Oilatum
Junior
• White soft paraffin 15% / Liquid paraffin
light 6% cream SC (500ml) – Oilatum
• White soft paraffin 15% / Liquid paraffin
light 6% cream SC (1050ml) – Oilatum
Part VIIIA amendments
• Betaxolol 0.5% eye drops SC (5ml) is
changing to Category C – Betoptic
• Clomifene 50mg tablets (30) is changing
to Category C – Clomid
• Co-trimoxazole 160mg/800mg tablets
(100) is changing to Category C – Aspen
Pharma Trading Ltd
• Frovatriptan 2.5mg tablets (6) is
changing to Category A
• Gliclazide 30mg modified-release tablets
(28) is changing to Category C –
Diamicron MR
• Indometacin 75mg modified-release
capsules (100) is changing to Category
C – Berlind 75 Retard
• Mesalazine 800mg gastro-resistant
tablets (180) is changing to Category C –
Octasa MR
• Nitrazepam 2.5mg/5ml oral suspension
(70ml) is changing to Category A
• Pholcodine 10mg/5ml linctus strong
sugar free (2000ml) is changing to
Category C – Galenphol Strong
• Pindolol 5mg tablets (100) is changing to
Category A
• Propranolol 80mg modified-release
capsules (28) is changing to Category C –
Half Beta-Prograne
• Rasagiline 1mg tablets 28 is changing to
Category A
• Tioconazole 283mg/ml medicated nail
lacquer SC (12ml) is changing to
Category A
Part VIIIA deletions
If a medicinal product has been removed
from Part VIIIA, and has no other pack
sizes listed, it can continue to be
dispensed as long as the product does not
appear in Part XVIIIA (the ‘Blacklist’).
However, it will need to be endorsed fully
(i.e. brand or supplier name and the pack
size from which the item was dispensed).
• Co-danthramer 37.5mg/500mg
capsules (60) Category C – A A H
Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Part IX deletions
It is important to take careful note of removals from Part IX because, if you dispense a deleted product, prescriptions will be returned
as disallowed and therefore payment will not be made for dispensing the item.
Product Type, size and product code
LoFric Hydro-Kit catheter (Wellspect HealthCare) Tiemann, 10-18 Gauge (Ch), codes 9871000-9871800
Versiva XC dressing (with Adhesive Border) Square: 10cm x 10cm, 14cm x 14cm, 19cm x 19cm, 22cm x 22cmHeel: 18.5cm x 20.5cmSacral: 21cm x 25cm
Versiva XC dressing (without Adhesive Border) Square: 7.5cm x 7.5cm, 11cm x 11cm, 15cm x 15cm, 20cm x 20cm
Sorbion silver flex dressing Square: 5cm x 5cm, 10cm x 10cm, 20cm x 20cm Rectangular: 10cm x 20cm
MediSafe Solo lancets (Cambridge Sensors Ltd) 0.50mm/29 gauge