New Community Pharmacy PCN Engagement Role

NHS England has today published details of a new community pharmacy PCN engagement lead role. Details are available here. This role is of interest to general practice because the community pharmacy PCN engagement lead will be a conduit between general practice and community pharmacy primary care. Funding has only been confirmed for the current financial year. A summary of the announcement is provided below.

1. Background

• Role Introduction: The community pharmacy primary care network (PCN) engagement lead role is established to support the regional implementation of the pharmacy Primary Care Access Recovery Plan (PCARP).
• Service Focus: This includes the Pharmacy First Service, Blood Pressure Checks Service, and Pharmacy Contraception Service.
• Purpose: Develop engagement channels between community pharmacy and PCNs, build partnerships, and support integrated clinical pathways.
• Funding and Management: Funded by NHS England for one year (April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025), with local delivery managed by Integrated Care Boards (ICBs).
• Role Expectation: Serve as a contact point for community pharmacies and general practices, support PCARP implementation, and ensure high-quality referrals and patient record management. Expected to provide at least 8 hours of support per quarter.
• Coordination and Reporting: ICBs will coordinate with local pharmaceutical committees to identify engagement leads and report to NHS England for assurance.

2. Framework for Community Pharmacy PCN Engagement Lead Role

• Responsibilities:
  • Support community pharmacies in engagement with PCNs.
  • Collaborate with PCNs and integrate community pharmacy services as part of the PCARP delivery plan.
  • Establish local arrangements with general practices for the Pharmacy First Service.
  • Participate in PCN clinical meetings to represent community pharmacy.
  • Develop relationships with PCN clinical directors and other key stakeholders.
• Operational Details:
  • Deliver at least 8 hours of engagement per quarter.
  • Engage in local clinical meetings, potentially facilitated by local pharmacists or pharmacy technicians if required.

3. Funding

• Allocation: Funding of £1,040 per PCN from April 2024 to March 2025, with specific allocations detailed in an annex.

4. Assurance

• Reporting: ICBs will report in September 2024 and March 2025 on the number of PCN engagement leads and their activities.
• Monitoring: NHS England regional senior pharmacy integration leads will monitor and evaluate the uptake and success of the roles nationally.

Comment

In principle, this is a very good idea. Community pharmacy sometimes feels like the unloved child of primary care. Having a mechanism to integrate community pharmacy more closely into primary care, alongside general practice, dentistry and optometry, is vital. Our main concern, as always in relation to community pharmacy, is in relation to funding.

Firstly, we note that the funding is only for the 2024-25 financial year. It would be helpful if the funding was confirmed for several years as this would signal a plan for expansion of the pharmacy first service as community pharmacy professionals become more adept at new ways of working and acquire new clinical skills.

Secondly, the funding on offer might not be sufficient to attract engagement from contractors. Since the expectation is for the lead to deliver at least 8 hours of engagement per quarter, the provided funding of £1,040 for the year works out to £32.50 per hour. If pharmacist backfill is required for this, then the rate might not be sufficient to cover both pharmacist locum and locum agency costs. Only larger chains, who already have dedicated field staff available for non-local branch needs, might be able to take part without incurring losses.

If you would like more updates of relevance to pharmacy professionals in general practice, click here.