In this fourth episode of our short series on pharmacy and PCNs, Ben talks to Community Pharmacist Hala Abusin about the impact of the planned increase in pharmacists in general practice. They discuss the role and value of community pharmacy and the opportunities and challenges for community pharmacists collaborating with both GP pharmacists and hospital pharmacists.

Show Notes

Hala describes her progress to her current position (48secs)

The role of and value of community pharmacy (2min 14secs)

Extending the role of community pharmacy – a practical example (3mins 34secs)

Community pharmacy view of pharmacists in general practice (6mins 37secs)

Sharing new ways of working (7mins 44secs)

The new five year contract for community pharmacy (8mins 17secs)

Community pharmacies working with PCNs (9mins 47secs)

Engaging community pharmacists (10mins 44secs)

Preparing to work with PCNs (11mins 41secs)

Pharmacists working together across organisations (13mins 23secs)

The differences between clinical and community pharmacists (14mins 09secs)

The challenges of collaboration (15mins 28secs)

The Community Pharmacy Consultation Service and other opportunities where community pharmacies can help (17mins 22secs)

Finding out more (18mins 43secs)

The challenge of the 30% funding gap (19mins 42secs)

Planning to build a team of pharmacists (20mins 50secs)

The relationship between GP and community pharmacists (22mins 27secs)

Finding out more (23mins 39secs)

Hala has provided some useful links for those looking for more information:

Details about the Joint Pain Advice project are available here and here

The Primary Care Pharmacy Network briefing on PCNs for pharmacists can be downloaded here

The PSNC guidance for supporting community pharmacists to engage with PCNs can be downloaded here

An article from Chemist and Druggist on the opportunity for community pharmacy in PCNs is available here

And the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework can be downloaded here