1. Think Pharmacy First Minor Ailment Scheme
16th July 2015

2. Urgent and Emergency Care Vision - Gateshead
‘‘Right Care, Right, Time, Right Place – a modern sustainable 24 hour, 7 days a week urgent and emergency care system designed to meet the needs of the people of Gateshead’

3. NHS England’s Review of Urgent and Emergency Care, Domain 2 - Faster, Convenient, Enhanced Services
Support the co-location of community-based urgent care services in coordinated Emergency/Urgent Care Centres.
Same day, every day access to general practitioners, primary care and community services.

4. Commissioning Intentions 15/16
Overall objective: Ensure that urgent and emergency care services (which includes access to primary care) are developed and modernised into a 24 hour, 7 days a week model appropriate for the health needs of the people of Gateshead - providing the right care, at the right time in the right place. Action: develop a fully integrated urgent primary care service (and would include GP OOH service)

5. 3 Key Project Outputs Prime Ministers Challenge Fund Extended Access
GP & Nurse
3 Hub Sites
8am-8pm M-F
9am-2pm S-S
GP Home Visiting Service
2 Hub Sites
4pm-8pm M-F
8am-8pm S-S
EMIS Web, Enterprise & Mobile Technology Solutions
Remote Access & Interoperability

6. NHS England’s Review of Urgent and Emergency Care, Domain 2 - Faster, Convenient, Enhanced Services
Support the co-location of community-based urgent care services in coordinated Emergency/Urgent Care Centres.
Same day, every day access to general practitioners, primary care and community services.
Harness the skills and accessibility of community pharmacy.

7. Minor Ailments Current scheme
Set up in July 2010 as an NHS Enhanced Service
Renewed in subsequent years on the same terms
Underutilised
Only pharmacies who are signed up to original scheme able to deliver
Awareness of the scheme can be low
Opportunity to reinvigorate scheme and align with local UEC vision

8. The New Scheme
Appropriate and competent member of the pharmacy team (Pharmacist, Pharmacy Technician, Dispensing Assistant or Pharmacy Assistant) is able to undertake consultation with patient
Required to operate for the full opening hours of the pharmacy and any patient can access (i.e. patient does not need to live in Gateshead)

9. Aim of the Scheme
Increase patient choice to access primary care in alternative settings.
Contribute towards a reduction in demand for appointments at GP surgeries and patients attending A&E with minor conditions
Bring care closer to home for patients.
Contribute towards the cost-effective use of medicines.
Promote self-care and make every contact a health improvement contact

10. Which ailments are included?
Aches and pains:
Back Pain
Headache
Migraine
Muscular ache
Period pain
Teething
Toothache
Gastrointestinal care:
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Dyspepsia
Haemorrhoids
Indigestion
Reflux
Threadworm
Vomiting
Skin care:
Athletes foot
Chickenpox
Cold sores
Contact Dermatitis / Atopic eczema
Fungal skin infections
Impetigo
Nappy Rash
Pruritis
Scabies
Warts and verrucae
Allergy:
Bites and stings
Hay fever
Skin reaction
Ear care:
Earache
Ear infection
Ear wax
Mouth Care:
Cold Sores
Oral Thrush
Ulcers
Colds and Flu:
Cough
Congestion
Sore Throat
Fever / temperature (including
Post-immunisation pyrexia)
Eye care:
Bacterial Conjunctivitis
Styes
Head Lice
Vaginal Thrush
Sundries

11. Who can access the service?
Any patient accessing the community pharmacy, regardless of where they live presenting with symptoms associated with the agreed list of ailments.
Adult patients (over the age of 16) should be in attendance in order to access the service.
In the case of a child under 16 years of age, a parent, guardian or carer must be in attendance, but the child being treated need not be present.

12. How do patients access the service?
Self-referral / community signposting
Accessed through triage or signposting:
GP practice staff
A&E
NHS 111
Non-participating pharmacies will signpost patients accordingly

13. However…
People who usually manage their own minor ailments through self-care and purchase of Over the Counter (OTC) medication should continue to self-manage and treat their minor ailments.
A patient requesting to purchase an over the counter medication should not be used as an automatic referral.

14. The Consultation Consultation
Assess patient’s condition. For some of the conditions a limited examination will be necessary.
Identify any concurrent medication or medical conditions, which may affect treatment of patient.
Consider any prior medication used and assess appropriateness of further supply.
Provide advice on the management, the self-limiting nature and time course of the condition.
Provide an appropriate and relevant information leaflet.

15. Consultation Treatment
Provide medication from the formulary appropriate to the patient’s condition as required.
Provided in line with clinical knowledge summaries.
Records
Complete record of the interaction on PharmOutcomes using standardised dataset.
If a product is supplied, ensure supply is recorded on the PMR system.

16. Onward Referrals
Quick and seamless referral to GP or other health professional
Change4Life Standardised Point of Access

17. Payment & Reporting £3.40 per patient consultation
Reimbursement of formulary medications – to be agreed annually between Commissioner and LPC
Claims to be made quarterly to

18. Payment & Reporting Monthly submission of PharmOutcomes data
Annual service evaluation including service user questionnaire
Support for system resilience through better and regular dialogue between LPC and the CCG

19. Think Pharmacy First Marketing & Public Launch

20. Background Think Pharmacy First
This branding has operated in Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland
Previously has never had any significant investment
To develop the marketing and communications campaign market research and segmentation has taken place

21. Target audience Patients – advertising and promotional activity
Segmentation has taken place:
Children under age of 16
Unemployed residents under age of 65 years
Residents over the age of 60
Health professionals – increasing awareness and encouraging referrals

22. Key messages
Greater choice and better access to treatment for minor ailments.
Using the skills and knowledge of pharmacists to provide the right treatment for patients at the right time, in a place which is convenient to them
Easier access to treatment for minor ailments without having to make an appointment to see their GP

23. Tactics Public launch september Low level activity throughout the year
High level activity in:
June/July – hayfever and aligned to pollen levels
September – children and going back to school
December – general winter illnesses

24. Activity Materials for pharmacies including point of sale
Leaflet to target the specific target groups
Digital advertising
PR launch
Posters in community venues eg libraries, bus stops, Metro system
Door-to-door distribution in key areas
Work with local press
Work with schools
Promotional staff out on street

25. Examples of materials in situ