Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment
Pharmacy service commissioning is a major challenge for PCTs, said Michael Sobanja, Chief Executive, NHS Alliance.
Speaking about plans for an October launch of a new network to help Primary Care Trusts improve pharmacy services commissioning, Sobanja said, “From next March, Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments will underpin all new contract applications. This means PNAs will come under intense scrutiny from providers. And with the entire pharmacy budget on their books soon, PCT Boards will be focusing on both the costs and benefits of improving pharmacy services. We want to support our members by pulling together their shared knowledge and insight, so that we can pinpoint areas where they need help and support and fast track development of world class pharmacy commissioning.”
The new Pharmaceutical Services Commissioning Network will be managed by Georgina Craig, NHS Alliance PSC Network Lead. The network has been developed to help Primary Care Trusts improve pharmacy services commissioning and it has a three part mission:
· to connect its members and share best commissioning management practice
· to identify opportunities, challenges and solutions from the front line of pharmacy commissioning
· to influence future commissioning policy development.
Sobanja said, “One of the network’s first priorities will be Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments. It wants to pull together insights into the management challenges of conducting PNAs, share examples of best management practice, and explore how PNAs are being used to shape commissioning intentions once they are in place.”
The Pharmaceutical Services Commissioning Network has the support of the Department of Health’s National Clinical Director for Primary Care and Community Pharmacy Jonathan Mason, who is a member of the network’s advisory group. Mason said: “One of the biggest challenges we face is getting PCTs to share experience and solve implementation challenges collectively. Networks can really help. Focusing on PNA implementation is critical just now. PNAs form the foundations of pharmacy service commissioning. They must become an integral part of PCT commissioning management processes.”
The network is also endorsed by the Primary Care Pharmacists Association (PCPA). Duncan Petty, Chair of PCPA said: “We are moving into a new era where pharmacy commissioning will become a management discipline in its own right. Providing both clinical specialists and commissioning managers in the field with an independent source of peer support is an essential part of the development process. We look forward to working in partnership with the PSC network.”
The PSC network is one of several networks provided as part of the NHS Alliance’s ongoing support programme for PCTs. Any PCT manager can join, but this network will be of particular interest to:
· Board members responsible for pharmaceutical services
· Directors who oversee PSC delivery
· Executives and managers responsible for delivering world class PSC
· PCT pharmacists and medicines management leads who advise on PSC and input into pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) development.
To sign up for the network contact admin@nhsalliance.org or call 01777 869080. Alternatively contact Georgina Craig, NHS Alliance PSC Network Lead on: 07879 480005 or email georgina@gcassociates.co.uk
