Contractor Support Material

Useful Contractors support material

NHS Service Finder

The NHS Service Finder is a free online search tool which provides access to information from the Directory of Services (DoS) and nhs.uk.

It is not open to the public, but it does allow pharmacy team members and other healthcare professionals with an NHS.net email to search for service information quickly, allowing a patient to be signposted to the most appropriate service for their needs. The system includes maps and directions to the services, plus the ability to email service information directly to your patient.

This tool also enables pharmacy teams to look-up non-public telephone numbers (where available) for listed services, such as general practice bypass numbers.

GP CPCS

For resource details for Train the Trainer please click below

• Train the trainer recording
• Presentation
• HWE Presentation
• Conditions
• HWE Conditions
• Screenshots & Explanations
• Pharmacy details onto S1
• CPCS icon toolbar onto S1
• Myths

If you require more details please contact

• Renate Scheffer – HWE
• Sarah Exall – MSE
• Sarah Westall – SNEE

Retention of Patient Records

Retaining and storing pharmacy records in England, please see here for details from the Specialist Pharmacy Service and for the Records Management Code of Practice click here.

Monitored Dosage Systems (MDS)

Please be aware that there is no NHS-funded service for MDS except for in very limited circumstances, i.e. when a patient meets the criteria for reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010, is assessed by the community pharmacist and the most appropriate reasonable adjustment is MDS, taking into account both the patient assessment and the suitability/stability of the medicines when supplied in such a way. This would not include patient (or third party, such as care agency or GP practice) requests for MDS for convenience.

The Essex LPC Ultimate Guide to Monitored Dosage Systems (including template letter for social care agencies)

Reasonable adjustment

Reasonable adjustments are a legal requirement to make sure health services are accessible to all disabled people. https://www.england.nhs.uk/learning-disabilities/improving-health/reasonable-adjustments/

Preventing aggressive or abusive behaviour in community pharmacy

Information pack: Preventing and dealing with aggressive and abusive behaviour in community pharmacy from the East of England Pharmacy Local Professional Networks

Mid Essex Talking Therapies ( previously known HPFT IAPT)

Mid Essex Talking Therapies service is available to anyone over the age of 17 who is registered or intending to be registered with a GP in Chelmsford, Braintree, Maldon, and the surrounding villages. The team of experienced therapists will work with patients to understand their challenges and equip them with tools and techniques to manage their difficulties. Conditions treated include depression, stress and the full range of anxiety disorders which includes generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), health anxiety and social anxiety. They triage and assess clients in a timely and professional manner. The  service is continuing to work collaboratively with physical health services to develop pathways to support multiple long-term conditions such as COPD, Cardiac Rehab and Oncology

For more information and their services please visit their website

Suicide Prevention

The last few years have been extremely tough on everyone and they continue to be testing times for many with rises in living costs, after effect of COVID, health delays and as even documented on the news this week shortages in some medications.

Sadly we know these along with other factors will impact on mental health and we want to ensure everyone knows and understands the basics of suicide prevention – how to spot the signs of someone who maybe in crisis, how to say the words to them and how to signpost them to support.

We are asking all pharmacists and their staff to take the training as a duty of care to themselves, colleagues and patients.  Based on the front line pharmacists and their teams get to see people on a regular basis, sometimes more than GP’s and can notice changes or they maybe the help line for someone to open up about a family member or friend.  Please ensure your team know the words to say.

The training will take just 20 minutes and it is totally FREE – there are three modules available on the website – Suicide prevention training, suicide prevention in students and isolation.

Your pharmacy logo can be included onto your website once the training has been completed to show you are undertaking regular mental health training, please do not hesitate to contact office@cpesx.org.uk who can give you Nadine’s contact details.   She can also supply your pharmacy with posters and flyers.

Taking this training could help save a life.

Drug Tariff

To notify PSNC of product over Drug Tariff prices please click here

Mid and South Essex Integration Care System

Please visit MSE ICS website for all the latest news.

Primary Care Careers – Pilot for Community Pharmacy

The Primary Care Careers team are an ICB-level recruitment service that is currently funded and supported across  5 eastern region ICBs (HWE, MSE, BLMK, N&W and SNEE), providing a dedicated recruitment support function for general practice teams. The service aims to provide recruitment support for a career in primary care, currently supporting GP practices to attract and recruit to their workforce.

If you have a vacancy for any job role across the team that you would like help to recruit for, we would strongly suggest you utilise this tailored and personalised service that takes much of the leg work away from your busy team and lets the team at Primary Care Careers do the advertising across Indeed, NHS Jobs, their dedicated website and social media. They will then help you by managing applications and provide you with a shortlist of potential applicants for you to contact to arrange interviews.

For more details and to express an interest please visit the Community Pharmacy Suffolk website