Keys actions from todays meeting Patient Participation Group Meeting Repeat Prescription Ordering Hub 3 July 2018 Rupesh Thakkar (Interim Head of Medicines Management)

What is the ‘Hub’ We are designing a Repeat Prescription Ordering Hub, which is a new way of ordering your repeat medicines. It is a phone service which you can call to speak to a trained person, who will discuss your prescription needs with you. We want to talk to you today because: We want to tell you more about how the Hub will work. We’d like to hear what you think about the idea. We’ll talk you through how the Hub will work in couple of slides’ time.

What happens at the moment? At the moment, you can order your repeat prescription in a number of ways: Using your pharmacy’s repeat prescription system. Visiting your GP. Using your GP’s online services This is convenient for patients, but staff in practices and pharmacies don’t always check that you need every item on the list every time you order. Animate bullets to appear after Hema has asked how aware people are of prescription methods. What are the advantages of each way? Any problems? Negative experiences (personal or from feedback they’ve heard)?

What’s wrong with the current options? You might end up with more medication that you need, meaning that you have a stock of it at home: There’s a risk that you might take too much. It could be dangerous to other family members. It wastes money that could be spent on essential NHS services in Walsall. Based on an audit 2016/17, in Walsall, people waste about £3.5m a year on unwanted medicine. You may also have questions about your medicines that you don’t always get the chance to ask. You may miss your regular check-ups.

How does it work? You telephone the Hub. You will speak to a trained person who has access to your GP records. They will ask you what you need and tell you if a medicine review or blood tests are needed. If it’s a simple request, the Hub pharmacist will issue your prescription. For something more complex, the Hub pharmacist can ask your GP for advice. Your prescription will be sent to your usual pharmacy, or printed at your GP practice. You collect your medicines as usual. If your pharmacy delivers, that will continue.

Any questions? Before we ask you what you think of our plans for the Hub, are there any questions you would like to ask us about how it will work?

What will be the benefits of the Hub? It’s quick and simple. It gives you more control over your medicine. You can call the Hub from a place that’s convenient for you. You get to speak to a dedicated person who has time to answer your prescription questions. A pharmacist can review your prescription if necessary. You will get the right amount of medicine at the right time. You will be told if you need any check-ups. You might be given a reminder about other useful services (like your ‘flu’ jab) The money we save on unused medicines will be used to benefit the health of people in Walsall. This is why we think it’s a good idea. Would you agree with this? Why? Is there anything you don’t agree with? Any problems you can foresee? Why? Is there anything we haven’t thought of?

Who will use the Hub? To begin with, the Hub will only be used by a small number of GP practices across Walsall. This is to make sure it works well and provides a good service. If the Hub has the benefits we expect, other practices will begin to use it over time. We think that this service will work well for most patients. If you think a telephone call will be difficult for you, you can speak to your GP about making other arrangements.

What do I need to do? If the Hub goes ahead and you are in one of the practices that will use it, your practice will tell you at least a month before the Hub is due to open. You will be given a phone number to call. If your practice is not part of the Hub for now, you don’t need to do anything differently.

Keys actions from todays meeting Thank you