Pharmacy First Service
All information on the new Pharmacy First service can be found on the main CPE page.
Information on how to book the local face to face ENT training sessions can be found here.
Pharmacy First Support
The information below is intended as a guide, contractors and pharmacists are responsible for making sure they are meeting all of the requirements.
Click on the headings below, Owners for Pharmacy Owners, Pharmacists for pharmacists and locums, and Team for all pharmacy team members. In each section you will find a list of things to consider for each group along with links to training and further information.
Many thanks to Karen Cox, Support Officer at Community Pharmacy Cambridgeshire & Peterborough for putting together this useful information.
Owners
Pharmacy owners:
- Read the service spec and the information on the CPE website and decide if you want to sign up to the service. Use the CPE Pharmacy Owner checklist.
- Complete the sign-up form on MYS. You must sign up before 30th January 2024 to receive the £2000 incentive payment.
- Develop an SOP, this must include escalation processes for any issues identified. Pharmacies will also need to have available signposting details, process for changing the DoS profile and contact details for local commissioners and urgent care providers.
- Let local surgeries know you will be providing the service. You could use this CPE briefing. Ask for ‘back-door’ numbers or emails for referring patients that may need an appointment
- Order otoscope(s) Every pharmacy will need one to deliver the service unless you are a DSP.
- Select an NHS approved IT system, once details are announced
- Ensure your pharmacists are completing any training required to be competent to deliver the service. Make sure you have informed your locums that you will be offering the service.
- Make sure all pharmacists have signed the final versions of the PGDs
- Brief the whole pharmacy team.
- Watch the recording of the CPE webinar – Getting to know the service
- The ‘Preparing for service launch’ webinar on 15th January is now full, but if you haven’t already registered you will be able to watch the recorded version.
Pharmacists
Pharmacists:
- Read the service spec, clinical pathways, and information on CPE website. Use the CPE pharmacist checklist.
- Review the CPPE pharmacy first self-assessment and complete any necessary training.
- If you need otoscope training register to attend one of our local events
- Consider completing the free clini skills training including an otoscope webinar on 18th January
- Read and sign the final versions of the PGDs
- Be familiar with the IT system that will be used in the pharmacies where you work. Before your first shift in a pharmacy check that logs in will be available for you.
- Be aware of the escalation and signposting details for each pharmacy. They may be different in each area.
- Watch the recording of the CPE webinar – Getting to know the service
- The ‘Preparing for service launch’ webinar on 15th January is now full, but if you haven’t already registered you will be able to watch the recorded version.
Team
Pharmacy team:
- Be familiar with the service spec and read the CPE briefing for teams.
- Know the log in for your IT system and be familiar with how it works to support any locums working in the pharmacy.
- Make sure you know the local escalation and signposting details
- Let local surgeries know you will be providing the service. You could use this CPE briefing Ask for ‘back-door’ numbers or emails for referring patients that may need an appointment
- Know how to update your DoS profile and to contact the local GP practices in the event of an unplanned closure.
- Be aware of the clinical pathways and refer any potentially eligible patients to the pharmacist
- Watch the recording of the CPE webinar – Getting to know the service
- The ‘Preparing for service launch’ webinar on 15th January is now full, but if you haven’t already registered you will be able to watch the recorded version.
