The PDA agrees that expert and experienced professional pharmacy leadership is required at the highest levels of STP/ICS to ensure that the complexities of an integrated pharmacy service can be managed and optimised. We would suggest that this high-level expertise must include individuals with significant experience in the workings of primary care and also experience of working with secondary care.
A robust integrated plan must include the provision and expansion of pharmaceutical care wherever patients receive medicines and must therefore include and support all pharmacists working in a local system (i.e. community pharmacists, all general practice-based pharmacists regardless of employer, care home and other specialist pharmacists, interface pharmacists).
NHS England is supporting pilots to test out models in seven STP regions:
- Black Country STP (Midlands)
- Cumbria and North East STP (North East)
- Dorset ICS (South West)
- Hertfordshire & West Essex STP (Central & East)
- Lancashire & South Cumbria ICS (North West)
- South East London STP (London)
- Surrey Heartlands ICS (South East)
We have attached the briefing document so that members can read about the plans.
Download the briefing document
These NHS England plans will have a direct effect on how pharmacists across primary care in England work in the future.
If you have concerns about how the plans might affect your job or are already subject to management of change plans, please get in touch.