The Pharmacy Management Academy - responding to pharmacists’ needs...
Announcing the development of a new national initiative to deliver high-quality, professional support for medicines optimisation
Background
Pharmacy Management has been helping pharmacists with their practice for over 25 years and, over that time, has developed a strong reputation for delivering high quality educational events, professional training and targeted support materials.
By the end of 2010, it was clear that pharmacists and others in the NHS were coming under increasing and sustained pressure, on a number of fronts, as major budgetary constraints started to bite and the pace and scale of health service reforms increased.
More than ever before, pharmacists and others working in medicines management are looking for help to deliver not only their normal roles and responsibilities, but also to maximise future opportunities as Clinical Commissioning Groups evolve and the NHS Commissioning Board prepares to take up its national management functions.
Early developments
During the first half of 2011, Pharmacy Management worked hard to prepare a timely programme of workshops to help delegates understand current policy developments and thinking around medicines, in this rapidly changing environment. Furthermore, in line with an indentified urgent need for such pharmacists, these workshops provide practical training and tools to assist with the marketing of medicines management skills and resources to potential future employers/commissioners.
Delivery of this initial support programme is already well underway, with large numbers of pharmacists having signed up to attend one of the 10 scheduled regional events – a clear indication of perceived relevance when workload is high and time at a premium. Having attended, delegates are consistently evaluating the content as timely and relevant to current issues, and the quality of delivery and resources as high standard.
A national steering group of senior pharmacists helped the Pharmacy Management team identify and then produce this initial work programme, whilst also providing preliminary views on the potential future development of a longer-term national initiative around medicines optimisation - The Pharmacy Management Academy.
The Academy – next steps...
With the current workshop programme soon to be completed, planning can now begin in earnest on the next phase in the development and evolution of the Academy. Those pharmacists who have already taken part in the initial events have provided clear feedback on the urgent need for a new, dynamic national focus for medicines optimisation to support them and their professional practice in a rapidly changing NHS.
The timing appears absolutely right for the emergence of a significant new organisation providing additional, timely and targeted support to all those professionals and stakeholders working hard to deliver optimal medicines use for patients in a difficult healthcare environment.
Wherever possible, the Academy needs to collaborate with existing organisations and groups (who are under considerable pressures themselves and already working on medicines management) to ensure that the full spectrum of professional development, networking opportunities, strategic input and wider support required is delivered effectively, whilst minimising duplication of effort.
We now have a unique opportunity to develop a dynamic new organisation for members from a broad church of backgrounds who all have common goals around medicines optimisation. Pharmacists, other clinical professionals, educationalists, and the pharmaceutical industry will all need to play their part by providing expertise, support and professional input to make this groundbreaking venture a real success.
We have been very fortunate that Peter Rowe (National QIPP Lead for Medicines Use and Procurement at DH) has already contributed extensively to the delivery of the Academy’s initial workshop programme and strongly supports its future evolution. Furthermore, we are delighted that Clive Jackson (former Chief Executive of the National Prescribing Centre) has agreed to take on a key planning and management role to help us deliver this next crucial phase of the Academy’s development.
Much work needs to be undertaken between now and March to ensure that this Academy is built on firm foundations and is structured to deliver high-quality support across a wide range of identified key needs of those individuals and groups who genuinely want to deliver on the national and local medicines optimisation agendas.
The Pharmacy Management Team will be keeping you informed of progress and letting you know how you can get involved in this exciting new opportunity.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Initial programme of 10 Workshops around England has been attended by 270 pharmacists involved with medicines optimisation.
First programme sponsored jointly by Daiichi-Sankyo UK Ltd, Merck Sharpe and Dohme Ltd and Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK) Ltd.
Quote from Ted Butler, Chairman, Pharmacy Management
‘As an organisation which has been involved with pharmacy development since 1985 we view the Academy as one of the most significant initiatives that we have been involved with in that period
I personally am delighted that Clive Jackson has agreed to become involved and share with us his experience from his time at the National Prescribing Centre.
The Academy will strive to offer pharmacists in both primary and secondary care support that will be relevant to the challenges and opportunities for medicines optimisation in the current NHS.
Having Clive “on board” will enable us to focus our efforts in a meaningful and appropriate way to keep pace with the needs of the profession as commissioners review resources and return on investment.
Planning is ongoing for 2012 and we hope to make more announcements in the near future’.
Ted Butler, Chairman, Pharmacy Management
Quote from Peter Rowe, National QIPP Lead for Medicines Use and Procurement, Department of
Health
‘Imagine a world where patients are informed consumers of medicines, every patient has all the information they need to make choices about their medication and the support they need to take their medicines correctly. Medication errors are eliminated and avoidable hospital admissions due to adverse effects or poor concordance are a thing of the past. The value of medicines is recognised by both patients and by "the NHS system" as outcomes are predicted, at both patient and system level. Pharmaceutical Companies and the NHS work in partnership to achieve the expected outcomes and risks are shared.
Fantasy? No, this is a world of optimised medicines use and it’s the future we have a responsibility to create. Why? - because our NHS will be unable to meet the needs of today's and tomorrow's patients within the resources available to us if we don't.
Building on the success of medicines management - success which pharmacists and others have worked hard to achieve - we need to develop the skills and competencies to take on this new agenda and lead patients, the NHS and Pharmaceutical Companies in working together to create this future.
The bold decision by Pharmacy Management to create an Academy to support pharmacists and others in developing the necessary skills and competencies is a significant step forward and the appointment of Clive Jackson (former CEO of the National Prescribing Centre), as Chief Executive Designate of the Academy during this crucial phase in its development, lays a solid foundation for this exciting venture.
I have met with many colleagues working in medicines management over the last few weeks and as ever I am both humbled and delighted by the enthusiasm and dedication you give to the NHS in what I know are uncertain times. We must now be brave, and both make the case for, and lead the development of, medicines optimisation in all parts of the NHS.
The Academy is there to help you do this and I will continue to give my support to Pharmacy Management and Clive as they develop a dynamic new national initiative for medicines optimisation - The Pharmacy Management Academy - over the coming months’.
Quote from Clive Jackson, former Chief Executive, National Prescribing Centre
‘The Pharmacy Management Academy is potentially a really significant development in medicines management and for those working hard to deliver it in increasingly difficult circumstances. I am, therefore, delighted to have been asked to help the Pharmacy Management team with the strategic planning and management of this next evolutionary stage in the Academy’s development.
Coordinated, targeted and timely support for medicines optimisation is going to be crucial to the effective implementation of NHS reform, QIPP, Value-based Pricing and wider transformational change involving medicines. Whilst much good support work is already going on, there are obvious and significant gaps in provision to help pharmacists and others develop themselves and to deliver on the extensive medicines-related agenda.
Through the Academy, we now have an important opportunity to build something of genuine, lasting value and professional prestige for a potentially broad range of members and stakeholders who share a common desire to optimise the use of medicines in patient care. I am really looking forward to the challenge of helping to make the Academy a major new national focus for medicines optimisation’
Some quotes from attendees at the first Academy programme:
Head of Medicines Management (Thames Valley PCT Cluster:
‘When I was asked to join Pharmacy Management Academy I was very delighted. The medicine management teams of the PCTs are going through uncertain changes at the moment. There are tremendous variations of the way MMT are perceived by the CCGs. I believe the Pharmacy Management Academy will give the MMT some very important and practical points to focus on. It also is proving a net working system to share to best practice. I look forward to see the progress of the Academy’.
Director of Pharmacy and Medicines Management (South East England)
‘I was fortunate recently to attend a Pharmacy Management Academy workshop on marketing. This event, provided in a local and convenient venue, provided an excellent insight into how to develop a marketing plan for the services my teams can provide.
The context for the training was set by the keynote speaker Peter Rowe, National Medicines QIPP Lead, which was invaluable in understanding where pharmacy in any NHS sector needs to be aligning its services.
The workshop techniques used during the day to quickly pull out what we need to build understanding and acceptance of our services were very effective. They reinforced a key message that we already have the skills and capability to address emerging problems in the NHS without recourse to external help providing we recognise our leadership role in medicines optimisation and market ourselves and our services effectively’.
SHA Strategic Prescribing Lead (North of England)
‘The quality of the organisation of the event – from the resources to the workshop delivery was excellent. The facilitated workshop sessions really challenged thinking on the structure and delivery of Medicines optimisation in the future NHS and how we all need to think about preparing for the future’.
Head of Medicines Management (North West PCT)
‘I enjoyed the protected time to consider how we might offer a Medicines optimisation service in the future. While some of the tools and techniques used in the Pharmacy Management Academy were not new, their reintroduction in this period of change allowed a timely pause for thought’.