Blog Archives

Morphine 10mg/1ml Injection - Supply Problems

23/12/2014

Please see below information sent to GP's about Morphine 10mg / 1ml Injection Shortages.
This was accompanied by a list of pharmacies within the region which stock specialist and palliative care drugs – please note opening times listed are normal opening times and to find Christmas opening times click here

Pharmacies Holding specialist and palliative care drugs

Pharmacy Emergency Repeat Medication Supply Service (PERMSS) Update - ACTIONS NEEDED

23/12/2014

The Pharmacy Emergency Repeat Medication Supply Service (PERMSS) service is now up and running went live on Thursday and below is an update as well as some important information for those pharmacies who have signed up.

Update:

Service is live and 111 are now referring.
Active Providers = 43
Accredited Providers = 627
Number of Provisions or Personal Interactions = 88
Some issues occurred over the first weekend (this is to be expected as the with all complex services and the timescales we were working to) - key issues are as follows:

Pharmacies are not checking system every 30 mins and calling patients (as per specification). This will not be practical so it is being discussed and we are hoping to have this changed to; "111 will supply telephone number of nearest participating pharmacy and patient will call pharmacy to start the process of accessing emergency supply. Pharmacy will then check stocks, advise and patient will attend."
Pharmacy teams are not aware of the existence of the service. This is surprising as the pharmacies signed up to offer the service. Please make sure you cascade awareness of the service and the general process (referral from 111, patient interaction, use of PharmOutcomes etc) to all team members including locums.
Pharmacies do not have their login details for PharmOutcomes. Please contact pinnacle or use the lost password links to reset your password.
Email Alerts - To help alert you of a referral on PharmOutcomes you can specify a management email address in your profile which will be used by pharmoutcomes to send you an email to alert of any referrals that have come through. If the email is missing in your profile you will not get an email alert and you will need to login in to Pharmoutcomes to check for referrals. If you would like us to add your email address please fill in the form below with the relevant details. Please make sure this address is accessible to all those in the pharmacy who may provide the service.

A discussion is being had with 111 to filter out those patients who are requesting CDs as these patients are not able to use the service.

Request for Action:

The LPC would encourage all those to sign up to the service to take the following steps.

111 will be making patient referrals to your pharmacy for emergency supplies over the coming weeks. Make the whole team aware.
Patient will call or present at the pharmacy to access the service. Make the whole team aware.
The patient details and payment can be accessed through the PharmOutcomes system. Make the whole team aware.
Please ensure that your pharmacy team has access to PharmOutcomes at all times whilst the pharmacy is open.
Please ensure that your pharmacy has the correct email address registered to the system.

The Area team have produced a FAQ document below.

Should you have any further queries please contact us.

Use the form below if you would like us to add your email address to pharmoutcomes.

Service FAQ

Interpretation Services - Local Details added to LPC Resource Website

22/12/2014

The NHS England Area Team have asked the LPC to distribute details of local interpretations services. We have now put document with the all the details on the resource page of the LPC site.
Should you have any queries please contact Nicola Smith at the Area Team

Nichola Smith
Assistant Primary Care Contract Manager (Pharmacy & Optometry)
County Durham, Darlington & Tees Area Team
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear Area Team

Based at:
Waterfront 4
Goldcrest Way
Newbury
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE 15 8NY

Direct Dial:         01138 247244
Switchboard:     0191 2106400
Email:              nichola.smith1@nhs.net

Sharp Bin Disposal in South Tyneside - Moorfields tip to stop accepting sharps.

22/12/2014

It has been brought to our attention that the NHS Area team have not renewed a contract with Middlefields "tip" in South Tyneside for the collection of sharps containers from patients. Historically Middlefields used to pick up sharps from peoples homes and also used accept sharps at their site.

From 1st January this will no longer be the case.

We understand some patients have been directed to pharmacies. The LPC acknowledges that most pharmacies can not accept sharps bins from patients under the current waste contacts that are in place.

We have spoken to medicines management who have now clarified that patients should be directed to take their sharps to their GP's who can dispose of them with their own sharps collections.

We have been assured that a message has been sent to GP's via their practice managers to clarify the current situation.

Local Christmas Opening Hours

18/12/2014

Pharmacies will have been sent a copy of the local pharmacy opening hours over the Christmas period direct from the area team. For your convenience they have been added below.

Gateshead

South Tyneside

Sunderland

All Areas accross CNTW and DDT.

Christmas LPC NEWS - Visit our 'Ph'estive Web Page

12/12/2014

Traditionally the Comms team have used the last LPC News letter of the year to publish a slightly off beat and fun newsletter to give contractors some amusement over the busy Christmas period.

Having moved away from a paper newsletter we have again put together a Christmas Webpage instead.

Being online we have been able to include an interactive crossword, videos, images and web links. All these are alongside some interesting articles. You can access the Christmas pages by clicking here.

We hope you enjoy the page and the format.

Please note you can still access the main LPC Webpage by clicking Home in the menu bar.
The Comms team and I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Sami

Pharmacy Team Contact Details - DDT / CNTW - Fax Line Closing

11/12/2014

We have been informed that the fax operated by the area team at Rapper House (01325 553 096) is being closed down.
All future communications with the pharmacy team at the area team need to be made by post or email.

Details are below.

Durham, Darlington and Tees (DDT)
NHS England, The Old Exchange, Barnard Street, Darlington, DL3 7DR
claire.mcvay@nhs.net

Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear (CNTW)
NHS England, Waterfront 4, Goldcrest Way, Newburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 8NY
Linda.bosher@nhs.net; and
wendy.hooper@nhs.net

GATESHEAD PNA - Public Questionnaire - PHARMACY ACTION NEEDED

11/12/2014

GATESHEAD CONTRACTORS ONLY
Gateshead contractors will be aware that Gateshead Council are currently working on their PNA.
As well as gathering information from pharmacies about the services offered they also want to get views of the public via a public questionnaire.

The council will be distributing the questionnaire through their own channels however they have asked us if pharmacies could also help by printing some questionnaires off and offering them to patients visiting the pharmacy.

Unfortunately the timescales are extremely tight and the council need this to run from today to 2nd January.
The LPC appreciates this is a busy time of year however the PNA is a very important document and we need to support the council.

Please download the questionnaire below and print 10 copies to be left on your counter.
Please then encourage patients to fill it in.

Once you have 10 completed questionnaire please send them to the freepost address below.

Pharmacy Survey
Gateshead Council Public Health Team
FREEPOST NEA 3381
Gateshead
NE8 1BR

Please note this is for Gateshead Pharmacies only.
Details for South Tyneside and Sunderland Areas will be distributed soon.

Cold Weather Alert- Level 2 - Alert and Readiness

11/12/2014

South Tyneside CCG have asked that we make pharmacies aware that there is a Level 2 weather warning from the Met Office for this weekend.
The alert is provide below for your convenience.

Please note as per alert:
There is an 80% probability of severe cold weather, icy conditions and some snow between 0000 on Friday and 0600 on Sunday in parts of England. This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services

ACTION NEEDED - Gateshead Pharmacies

8/12/2014

Gateshead Council are working on new the PNA (Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment) for Gateshaed.

The PNA is an improtant document for pharmacy contractors as it it is used to plan services and inform pharmacy contract applications.

It is very important that the council have accurate information about pharmacies in the area to ensure an accurate PNA is produced.

Each Pharmacy must provide this information to the council and to make this easier they are collecting it electronically via the link below.

Please make sure you fill this in for your pharmacy. If you feel you are unable to fill this in for your pharmacy please make sure your manager / area manager / owner is aware of this email and the need to fill in this questionaire.

The council have asked this to be done in the next 2 weeks so the deadline is 11th December however we would encourage you to do this straight away and not leave it to the last minute as we enter the busy month of December.

Click HERE to access the PNA Questionnaire

Please Note this is for Gateshead contractors only.

South Tyneside and Sunderland Councils are working on their PNA's and will send out their surveys in due to course.

**** UPDATE ******

Some IT systems have not allowed access to the PNA Questionnaire via the link above. You can try the following direct link.

https://consultation.gateshead.gov.uk/KMS/elab.aspx?noip=1&CampaignId=388&SessionId=RBN3WKB57P