CCG/PH updates FAO Community Pharmacies 1. Stop smoking county update 2.Gluten Free Prescribing East and West CCG 3.Discontinuation of Minor Ailments West CCG 4.Changes to OTC prescribing East CCG 5.changes to third party ordering East CCG update 1. Stop smoking county update Dear Pharmacy Manager As you will be aware the way in which we deliver Stop Smoking Services in Leicestershire is changing from 3 rd January 2017 and will be provided by Leicestershire County Council. The new service model will provide one to one services over the telephone and through technology based models such as texting, email and video chat as opposed to the face-toface conventional model currently in place. As part of this agreement a decision in collaboration with LPC has been made and we are offering all pharmacies in Leicestershire an opportunity to sign up to our new PGD for Varenicline /Champix. This will allow pharmacies to provide Varenicline/Champix directly to patients without the need of prescriptions from GPs. We can appreciate that it is going to be a different way of working and you will no longer be commissioned to provide behavioural intervention to patients, however there is some financial recompense under the new pharmacy service specification that will be published shortly. All patients calling after the 3 rd January can be directed to the Quit Ready Stop Smoking Service and further communication will be circulated in the coming weeks containing key contact details. We will have advisors on standby to take patient s calls and offer support from this date along with the launch of a new website. As the new service commences on 3 rd January prior to the full CBS procurement, we are offering pharmacies the opportunity to sign up to this PGD service (Provision of Smoking Cessation Pharmacotherapy) for the 3 month period covering 1 st January 2017 to 31 st March 2017 under your existing CBS contract as a contract variation. Following this period you will be required to tender for this service as part of the wider CBS tender for 2017/18 of which communication will go out shortly. Please could you indicate below your expression of interest to deliver this service and reply to this email;
I am interested in providing this service for the period of 1 st January to 31 st March 2017 varied into my current CBS contract until 31 st March 2017 (Y/N) I am expressing an interest in bidding for this service for the subsequent period of 1 st April 2017 to 31 st March 2018 during the full CBS procurement tender (Y/N) Following receipt of expressions of interest you will receive further documentation and information to ensure your updated contract is in place prior to the service going live on 3 rd January 2017 and added to the full procurement circulation which will go out shortly for 2017/18 tenders. Kind regards Debbi Harrison Head of Business Services Public Health, G58 Leicestershire County Council County Hall, Glenfield, LE3 8RA ' Direct Line: 0116 3052690 / Mobile: 07535924680 * Email: debbi.harrison@leics.gov.uk
2.Gluten Free Prescribing East and West CCG from Thursday 1st December 2016 Dear Community Pharmacist, From Thursday 1 st December patients in West and East Leicestershire and Rutland CCGs will be allowed a maximum of 8 units of bread and flour on prescription per month. A list of items that will be allowed on prescription is included in this letter along with a Question and Answer sheet outlining what the changes will mean for patients. GP surgeries will contact/ review patients in the forthcoming weeks starting December 1 st to change their gluten free items on repeat prescriptions. We anticipate this to occur in the first two weeks of December but may take longer in some practices. During this transition period please check with your local GP practices if ordering any Gluten free items on repeat prescription as existing repeats may have been removed and the patient may need to complete a new order form should they not have already done so. Please note for the time being Leicester City CCG will be continuing to use the guidance currently on LMSG. Further information is available on the CCG websites East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG Changes Gluten Free Prescribing https://eastleicestershireandrutlandccg.nhs.uk/2016/11/17/hundreds-have-their-say-onparacetamol-and-gluten-free-food-on-prescription/ https://eastleicestershireandrutlandccg.nhs.uk/your-health/local-services/self-care/ West Leicester CCG Changes to Gluten Free Prescribing http://www.westleicestershireccg.nhs.uk/glutenfree
3. Discontination of Minor Ailments Scheme West CCG The funding for the Pharmacy First service has now been exhausted and it has been decided not to allocate further money to continue the scheme. This is mainly due to the current work streams happening across primary care in Leicestershire which encourage the public to buy over the counter medicines rather than expect them to be supplied free of charge at NHS expense. Also a review of the service has indicated that most of the activity was from three community pharmacies although the scheme was promoted across West Leicestershire. The Pharmacy First service will therefore be discontinued after the 30th November 2016. The CCG is aware that NHS England intend to promote a national urgent minor ailment scheme and will review again when further details are made available. Could I ask practices to please remove any materials signposting patients to the Pharmacy First Service e.g. posters and patient information leaflets, from display with immediate effect. Please also ensure the relevant members of staff are aware of the discontinuation of the Pharmacy First Service to prevent inadvertent patient referral after the 30th November 2016.
4. Changes to OTC prescribing East CCG We are writing to notify you of the start date of changes to prescribing in East Leicestershire and Rutland. As previously communicated with you, we are facing a tough year financially. One of the areas where we can make significant savings without impacting on essential healthcare services is to stop prescribing medicines which are easily and more cost effective for the NHS if bought by patients in community pharmacies and supermarkets. These include: Cough mixtures Coldsore treatment Colic drops Paracetamol and Ibuprofen for simple short term conditions Antifungal nail treatment Antacids for indigestion Antihistamines for hayfever Medicated shampoo Sunscreen Mouthwash and mouth ulcer treatment Travel vaccinations Herbal remedies Some patients will be exempt from this change if they have particular conditions. Attached is a list of these exemptions.the list of medication was produced using guidance from LMSG and PresQIPP for items that are classed as low priority prescribing for poor clinical evidence of efficacy or for the promotion of self-care or other reasons. In depth information has been produced for patients to refer to via East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG swebsite detailing exemptions, evidence base and self care support for each item on the above list. In certain circumstances GPs will need to use their clinical judgement when prescribing these products. If you have any questions about the list of medicines or the exemptions please contact the medicines quality team on: 0116 295 7181.
5.Third party ordering east ccg An update on the start date for the changes to third party ordering will be been sent under a separate email and further information about how this will be communicated to your practices, patients and stakeholders is currently being finalised. We will share this with you as soon as it is complete. Communications to the patient and public The CCG plans to announce these changes to the public in East Leicestershire and Rutland the week beginning 31 October 2016. The list of exemptions, and attached self-care leaflets will be available on the CCG s website from the beginning of next week, along with information for patients about the changes to prescribing. We have also produced two posters for use in the practices. Electronic versions are attached. We will be issuing a statement to the local media and have developed a frequently asked questions document to address some of the issues we anticipate will arise. This will also be available on the CCG s website Finally we will be using our social media to further promote the changes and signpost people to self care information. Kind Regards Sent on behalf of Rina Babla, Practice Support Pharmacist, East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG