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Pharmacy Team

Our Service:

The PCN pharmacy team consists of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.​

Pharmacists are healthcare professionals. They are trained in the clinical use and pharmaceutical properties of medicines. Some pharmacists have completed advanced qualifications such as a clinical diploma.  Pharmacists can become Independent Prescribers and it is expected that all PCN pharmacists will complete the course as part of their training.  Many pharmacists within the team already have this qualification. ​

Pharmacy Technicians are also healthcare professionals registered with the GPhC. They are qualified in the technical areas of medication, however through experience can gain clinical knowledge. Some pharmacy technicians are working towards an advanced clinical qualification.​

The pharmacist and pharmacy technician assigned to each surgery / site work together as a team and so may share work or refer on to each other if appropriate.

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To refer to the pharmacy team please task 'PCN Pharmacist' or a named individual within the surgery system alternatively book a patient into an appropriate slot on the pharmacist / pharmacy technicians ledger.

Clinical Pharmacists:

Pharmacy Technicians:

The following are some examples of the areas of knowledge and practice that technicians work within:  

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  • Cost effective prescribing and prescription costs for patients  

  • Knowledge on formulations, pack size and appearance of medications  

  • Legal and ethical requirements and boundaries to supply and storage of medication  

  • Knowledge of the use of medication and devices  

  • Advice and education on medication to help aid patient understanding and compliance                                   

Within the PCN technicians are continually gaining clinical skills and knowledge whilst also integrating into the practice teams. Some of the services that technicians provide are as follows however this is by no means exhaustive:                                                      

  • Processing hospital discharges and clinic letters - medicines reconciliation and arranging follow-ups 

  • Supporting with prescribing processes such as Electronic Repeat Dispensing  

  • Synchronizing and optimising repeat medications, and improving cost effective prescribing  

  • Supporting with compliance issues, timings of medications, counselling points and review/education of medical devices such as inhalers and glucose monitors  

  • Educating patients on their conditions, the reasons for taking their medications and how to use them effectively whilst encouraging healthy lifestyle factors  

  • Supporting with amber drug monitoring and other medication monitoring requirements  

  • Carrying out audit led work from various sources such as MHRA, QOF, IIF, CQC and ICB  

  • Working as part of the MDT and liaising with other professionals such as community teams, hospital and pharmacies as well as other PCN and practice staff to improve patient care  

  • Working within the boundaries of the role and own competencies and referring /signposting to other healthcare professionals as appropriate 

Clinical pharmacists can provide support with the following areas:

 

  • Providing structured medication reviews for patients. These can be planned or reactive. The patient centred review will cover all medicines the patient is prescribed and look at monitoring, efficacy, compliance, any other drugs/supplements taken, health and lifestyle. The aim is to support patients in finding ways to get the best from their medicines.  

  • Providing medication reviews

  • Contributing to an MDT approach to clinically assess and treat patients using expert knowledge of medicines for specific disease areas e.g. anticoagulation in AF, titration of HF or hypertensive medication, diabetes, review of opioid medication​. 

  • Providing support to patients and healthcare professionals with advice or signposting for medicine related queries. 

  • Processing eDANS and clinical letters – completing medicine reconciliation and counselling patients before starting new treatment. 

  • Help practices achieve patient-centred medicines optimisation and quality improvement in prescribing activities. 

  • Advising on medicine administration where a patient has swallowing difficulties or covert administration is being considered. 

  • Liaising with community and hospital pharmacy staff to ensure the correct medication is available for a patient in a timely manner. 

  • Assisting practice staff with achieving IIF, QOF, QIS and QIPP targets 

  • Producing and reviewing protocols and standard operating procedures. 

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