Members of the NHS team running a \u2018stocktake\u2019 of how primary care is currently engaged in local systems met with community pharmacy representatives this week, at a roundtable organised by the National Pharmacy Association.<\/p>\n
Discussions ranged across prevention, urgent and complex care and will feed into the \u2018Fuller Stocktake<\/a>\u2019 – a review of how primary care (including community pharmacies) can best be supported within the emergent integrated care systems (ICS) to meet the health needs of people in their local areas.<\/p>\n Professor Claire Fuller, who is overseeing the stocktake which bears her name, said: \u201cThis roundtable brought together pharmacy leaders and other experts to inform the stocktake, focusing on practical next steps ICSs can take as they assume a statutory footing from July. We\u2019re delighted that the National Pharmacy Association is helping to engage its members and the wider sector in this process.\u201d<\/p>\n NHS England and NHS Improvement Director Gina Naguib-Roberts, who took part in the roundtable, said: \u201cThere was real power in what people said at this event. We covered an enormous amount of ground and heard some incredible case studies which help to lift people\u2019s eyes and show what is possible. We don\u2019t want to leave it to chance that community pharmacy is in the right conversations within ICSs.\u201d<\/p>\n The NPA\u2019s Local Integration Lead, Michael Lennox, said: \u201cThe Fuller team wanted to know what is needed from system leaders to fully engage community pharmacy in planning and delivery at a local level. Just as importantly, they need to know what pharmacy representatives can contribute to this objective.<\/p>\n \u201cWe went into detail about enablers such as data, leadership development, training opportunities and IT interoperability. This whole process is about finding solutions together and effecting change \u2013 not only visioning the future but also making it happen in a very practical sense.\u201d<\/p>\n Those attending this week\u2019s event included pharmacy bodies, NHS England officials and the NHS Confederation.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, pharmacists, pharmacy teams and \u201canyone with good ideas of knowledge of effective practice\u201d is invited to join the conversation at #FullerStocktake and www.fullerstocktake.crowdicity.com\/hubbub\/communitypage\/120958<\/a>.<\/p>\n The \u2018Fuller Stocktake\u2019, commissioned by NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard, will review how primary care networks can be best supported within ICSs, with the aim to ensure that primary care remains the lynchpin of community-facing healthcare.<\/p>\n About 1.6 million people visit a pharmacy every day in England, and many are open for long hours when other healthcare services are unavailable. As such, they are a vital component of primary care, particularly in deprived areas.<\/p>\n Later this Spring, the stocktake team will make recommendations directly to NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard.<\/p>\n