Pharmacy and Medicines Support to Care Homes: Urgent System-Wide Delivery Model

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/services/care-home-resource-hub/

This new operational model has been published today by NHS England and NHS Improvement and is intended to help pharmacy and medicines teams implement the NHS England and NHS Improvement Primary Care and Community Health Support for Care Homes guidance.

It describes the medicines and pharmacy contribution to the work and sets out how teams should collaborate across the NHS system. It also provides practical advice and resources and a model of service to help local systems reduce the risk of harm during the COVID-19 period by ensuring that consistent medicines and pharmacy services meet the needs of care home residents and staff. It includes an implementation plan to activate the model of service at local level.

The work is being led and coordinated in each area by a clinical lead appointed by each CCG and has the backing of the regional and national NHS England and NHS Improvement pharmacy team.

The guidance to primary and community care providers and commissioners on 1 May 2020 set out four key areas where clinical pharmacy and medicines optimisation support is needed. The model outlines that support for care homes will require collaborative, clinical and professional leadership from across all pharmacy sectors.

The work was led by a Short Life Working Group on Pharmacy and Medicines in Care Homes and will make a real difference to care homes staff and residents.