Written Ministerial Statement

The content of this written ministerial statement is as received at the time from the Minister. It has not been subject to the official reporting (Hansard) process.

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety- Pharmacy in the Community

Download this statement as a PDF (51.79 kb)

Published at 11.00 am on Wednesday 26 March 2014

Mr Poots (The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety): I wish to make a Written Statement to the Assembly to advise Members of the publication of the strategy for the provision of pharmaceutical services in the community.

The renewed strategic focus is a tangible expression of my commitment to the future of role of pharmacy in the community as a vital and fundamental part of a patient centred, locally based care system.  This aligns with wider transformational change in the Health Service.

The key themes of the strategy are pharmacy helping people to:

•           Gain better outcomes from Medicines;

•           Live longer healthier lives;

•           Safely avail of care closer to home;

•           Benefit from advances in treatment and technology.

In developing these themes, existing policies and strategies which particularly bear on the planning and delivery of pharmacy services in the community have been taken into account.  These include: the Quality 2020 Strategy; the Long Term Conditions Policy Framework; the new Strategic Framework for Public Health; and the ongoing programme of transformational change across the HSC.  

The strategy focuses on a number of key areas for the future provision of pharmacy services in the community which will involve pharmacists working in both primary care and community pharmacy settings:

•           A refreshed professional focus for pharmacists working in the community on the safe and effective use of medicines demonstrated by the routine provision of information and advice to people when medicines are supplied and access to additional services to support improved adherence;

•           A recognised role for community pharmacies as accessible public health resources commissioned to provide information, advice and services aligned to and directly contributing to the key objectives of the wider public health agenda;

•           A clear and defined role for pharmacy led intervention within integrated care teams providing care and support for people closer to home by promoting self care and wellbeing through the safe and effective use of medicines and healthy lifestyles;

•           Increased awareness from the public, healthcare professionals and commissioners of the information, advice and services available at community pharmacies and provided by pharmacists in other community settings;

•           A recognised role for pharmacists in supporting key transformational change in the HSC by supplying services within the hub and spoke model; 

•           Wider use of IT to integrate community pharmacy into the wider HSC including appropriate access to the Electronic Care Record;

•           The development of Patient Service Obligations on manufacturers and wholesalers to maintain a robust medicines supply to Northern Ireland; and

•           Increased post graduate clinical training for community pharmacists and the development of a research-ready network of pharmacies.

The strategy will be published together with a press release on 26th March 2014 and can be accessed at DHSSPS website

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