The concept of the individual pharmacist practitioner was developed and launched at the 2011 Annual Conference.
This vision for pharmacy, called The PDA Road Map, encompassed the belief that through a realignment of primary care contracting, GPs could refer caseloads of patients with long term conditions to clinic pharmacists who would deliver detailed pharmaceutical care on an individual named and registered patient basis. In turn, this would provide GPs with more capacity to concentrate their efforts on the acute needs of patients to prevent unnecessary A&E attendances and hospital admissions.
Download PDA’s Road Map for England
Having developed the concept of its ‘Road Map for Pharmacy’ the PDA embarked on an extensive lobbying exercise supported by a series of conferences, meetings and presentations throughout the UK to convince pharmacists, patient groups, politicians and other health professionals of its merits.
The PDA’s Road Map for Scotland was formally submitted in 2012 to the Scottish Government review of pharmaceutical care in the community. In September 2013 the outcome of that review was published. Entitled ‘Prescription for Excellence‘ this ten-year vision for pharmacy in Scotland has the concept of the individual pharmacist practitioner embedded at its very core.
PDA Chairman Mark Koziol commented:
“We have worked tirelessly to champion the benefits to patients through the greater recognition of the individual pharmacist in service provision. Individual pharmacists deliver a very valuable asset to patient care in the form of their intellectual investment and professional skill. In community pharmacy this is something that in the past has rarely been recognised and has often been dominated and overshadowed by large corporate-style commercialism and profiteering.”
He added:
“The Scottish vision cannot be any less ambiguous. It recognises the significant benefits for patient care of separating the commercial and professional issues that may impact on pharmacy practice, and it encourages pharmacists to work with much greater professional autonomy. For the first time, patients will be able to register with the individual pharmacist of their choice for the provision of pharmaceutical care through the NHS. We are absolutely delighted that the outcome in Scotland has been so visionary and courageous. Its ground-breaking effects are already being noticed throughout the rest of the UK where pharmacists have been asking us – when will we get to practice with greater professional freedom and recognition in our part of the UK?”
In the summer, NHS England announced that the GP contract will be undergoing a fundamental review, and on September 30th the Deputy Chief Pharmacist announced that pharmacy is also to be reviewed, providing an opportunity to re-engineer a new contract for community pharmacy. To influence that process, on October 11th, the PDA’s Road Map for England was formally submitted to government. Developing the same concepts of the benefits of the individual pharmacist practitioner as it did in Scotland, the PDA’s Road Map for England focusses specifically upon reducing unnecessary A&E attendances and avoidable hospital admissions, which is a priority agenda in England.
Mr Koziol said:
“Alongside our efforts in Scotland, we have been talking to a wide range of stakeholders about the PDA’s Road Map in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for some considerable time. Already, many senior stakeholders will be familiar with our Road Map strategy and how it can benefit patients as well as meet the hopes and aspirations of individual practitioner pharmacists. The reviews of both the GP and the community pharmacy contracting frameworks in England represent the perfect opportunity into which we can submit our Road Map proposals and engage in the process. We believe that the effect of what has happened in Scotland and the very positive response that it has solicited from the profession will undoubtedly be very beneficial in assisting with our efforts.”
Alongside the on-going efforts in Scotland and England, the PDA also continues to engage in lobbying stakeholders in Wales, Northern Ireland and at EU level.