Kieran Reynolds talks to Professor Alastair Hay and Simran Sirpal about some of the clinical issues surrounding the sinusitis service under Pharmacy First. Discussion includes why intranasal steroids are first line in suspected bacterial sinusitis, treating patients who are breastfeeding, as well as how to administer nasal sprays. (16m 58s)

Professor Alistair Hay – GP & Professor of Primary Care, Bristol Medical School

Simran Sirpal – Community Pharmacist, Sirchem Pharmacy Group

Kieran Reynolds – Specialist Pharmacist (Medicines Governance), SPS

Useful links:

NHS England Pharmacy First resources

https://www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/pharmacy-first/

How to use a nasal spray - The British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI)

https://www.rbht.nhs.uk/sites/nhs/files/How%20to%20use%20a%20nasal%20spray.pdf

NICE sinusitis (acute) antimicrobial prescribing guidance

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng79

In this extended podcast, Claire Dearden talks to Nicola Stockmann who is the President of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK. To celebrate Pharmacy Technician Day, Claire and Nicola look back at the previous 14 episodes of series two of the SPS coffee break conversations with pharmacy technicians. They reflect on each individual podcast and discuss the diverse and inspirational roles that pharmacy technicians hold. This podcast also touches on the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK and Nicola’s role as President. (27m 27s)

Nicola Stockmann - President of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK

Claire Dearden - Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s and Specialist Pharmacy Service National Pharmacy Technician Fellow

SPS series two of coffee break conversations with pharmacy technicians

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/pharmacy-technician-coffee-break-conversation-podcasts/

Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK

https://www.aptuk.org/

Claire Dearden talks to Lucy Featherstone who is an Oncology and Haematology Clinical Trials Pharmacy Technician. Lucy is responsible for managing, organising, and maintaining the oncology Pharmacy Clinical Trials Portfolio. Her role also includes education, leadership, multi-disciplinary working, compliance, as well as developing and maintaining governance frameworks. (6m 21s)

Lucy Featherstone - Principal Pharmacy Technician, Oncology and Haematology Clinical Trials

Claire Dearden - Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s and Specialist Pharmacy Service National Pharmacy Technician Fellow

Claire Dearden talks to Jon Ball who works as a community pharmacy technician managing a Boots Pharmacy at Bluewater. Jon’s role includes ensuring that a safe and efficient Pharmacy is ran on a daily basis. He manages a pharmacy team, ensuring that all clinical governance as well as compliance and training is up to date in order to provide the best patient care. Jon supports his team to develop their roles in order to provide their community with the most up to date services and information.

Jonathan Ball - Pharmacy Manager, Boots

Claire Dearden - Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s and Specialist Pharmacy Service National Pharmacy Technician Fellow

Claire Dearden talks to Ben Smith and Michelle Brown. Ben and Michelle were redeployed to work in an Emergency Department as part of a project to improve patient safety in this area. Their clinical pharmacy role included taking detailed medicine reconciliations with patients, as well as a new initiative to administer medications to patients, including making up and administering IV antibiotics. (14m 21s)

Benjamin Smith - ePMA Clinical Pharmacy Specialist and Senior Education and Training, Learning and Development Pharmacy Technician, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Michelle Brown - Prison Services Pharmacy Technician

Claire Dearden - Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s and Specialist Pharmacy Service National Pharmacy Technician Fellow

In this follow up to our webinar Naima & Nicola discuss deescalating conflict, and preparing for and having conversations when people may not hear what you are saying. Naima shares practical advice and tools you can use to enable you to navigate difficult conversations more confidently.

Speakers:

Naima Fowlis, Clinical Psychologist, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust

Nicola Wake, Associate Director, Medicines Optimisation and Engagement, NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service

Webinar recording & resources: https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/navigating-difficult-conversations-with-confidence/

'Ask Tell Ask' Strategy

Baile WF, Buckman R, Lenzi R, Glober G, Beale EA, Kudelka AP. SPIKES-A six-step protocol for delivering bad news: application to the patient with Cancer. Oncologist. 2000;5(4):302–11.

SPIKES Tool

Back, Anthony L., et al. "Approaching difficult communication tasks in oncology 1." CA: a cancer journal for clinicians 55.3 (2005): 164-177.

NURSES Tool

Campbell T. C., Carey E. C., Jackson V. A., Saraiya B., Yang H. B., Back A. L., Arnold R. M. Discussing prognosis: Balancing hope and realism. Cancer Journal. 2010;16:461–466.

Claire Dearden talks to Rebecca Toole (Becca) who is a Chemotherapy Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician working in an Oncology Day Unit. Alongside her daily pharmacy technician duties which include medication histories, waste management, counselling and much more, Becca now administers Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy including oral, subcutaneous and intravenous medication to patients on the day unit. (8m 59s)

Becca Toole - Pharmacy Technician, Oncology North Tyneside General Hospital

Claire Dearden - Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s and Specialist Pharmacy Service National Pharmacy Technician Fellow

Claire Dearden talks to Sarah, a Specialised Pharmacy Technician who has a responsibility of overseeing the administration of medication to patients. Her role encompasses various other tasks including medication reconciliation, dosage preparation, and collaborating closely with healthcare professionals to minimise the risk of medication errors. (8m 59s)

Sarah Blowers - Lead Medicines Administration Technician Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust

Claire Dearden - Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s and Specialist Pharmacy Service National Pharmacy Technician Fellow

Claire Dearden talks to Claire Hand who is Pharmacy Integration and Workforce Lead. Claire's role involves supporting the Integrated care System (ICS) providers and organisations to ensure that community pharmacy and the clinical services they provide are fully integrated into the wider NHS. Claire also supports the development and implementation of the ICS pharmacy workforce strategy focusing on the NHS priorities of train, retain and reform. (11m 09s)

Claire Hand - Pharmacy Integration and Workforce Lead NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB

Claire Dearden - Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s and Specialist Pharmacy Service National Pharmacy Technician Fellow

Claire Dearden talks to Lynsey, who is Dispensary Manager & Homecare Lead. Lynsey's role is to give operational oversight of the Pharmacy team within the Hospital, including supporting staff with advice, supervision and mentoring in all aspects of work. She authors policies and Standard Operating Procedures, ensuring these are adhered to. Lynsey leads on projects, chairs meetings and implements change across the Pharmacy department. (8m 28s)

Lynsey Chaddock - Dispensary Manager & Homecare Lead, Haywood Hospital Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Claire Dearden - Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s and Specialist Pharmacy Service National Pharmacy Technician Fellow