Thomas RossLead Pharmacist (South & Mid)

NHS Highland

The Policy

• Sets out standards, processes and procedures for all aspects related to the management of medicines

• For services now professionally and managerially the responsibility of NHS Highland

• Ensures medicines managed legally, safely and effectively• Ensures processes and procedures are consistent• Offered to independent providers too but not mandatory

The Policy

• Protect and support residents and people using the services• Support care staff• Define roles and responsibilities of other staff and professionals

The Policy - Content

• Education and training of care staff• Assessing level of support• Record keeping• Safe and secure handling and storage of medicines• Ordering and receiving• Administering medicines• Disposal of medicines

Changing Technician Roles

• Moved away from audit• Moved away from supporting homes with ordering• Moved towards medicines reconciliation and technician

medication review

Technician Clinical pharmacist GP Geriatrician

Telehealth a Panacea?

The delivery of health-related services and information via telecommunications technologies

1 • Identify patient

2 •Remote Access Patient Record

3 • Patient work up

4 •Remote clinic

5 •Write up GP record

6 •Actions

7 • Follow-up

Medication Review Process

Pharmacy Service

6 monthly medication review

Falls assessment

Swallowing/administration issues

Medicine management training

Pharmacy support

Primary and secondary care link

Next Steps

• Remote access options• Remote access hub• Virtual MDT• Serial prescribing/dispensing in care homes

• Pharmacotherapy service

• Policy to be contractual for all care homes• Tie in period and service level agreement for community

pharmacy provision• Standard education, training and up skilling of care staff• Care homes to self monitor, audit and report• GP Practice alignment

Wish List

• Community pharmacy support staff to audit storage, recording etc.

• Community pharmacy to have more clinical input and responsibility with improving standards in their care homes

• Community and primary care pharmacy working collaboratively• Develop primary care technician role e.g. Medicines reconciliation

Wish List