Contract Preparation Payments 2008-9

PCA(P)(2008) 20 advises contractors on the programme of Strands to be undertaken by contractors to prepare for the new pharmacy contract in 2008-9.The programme strands agreed with the Scottish Government for 2008-9 are:

·         Element/Strand A Implementation of eAMS Strand of ePharmacy.

·         Element/Strand B Data collection to support a community pharmacy workforce audit

·         Element/Strand C Data collection to inform an audit of the Minor Ailment Service (MAS) and Unscheduled Care support provided by contractors

·         Element/Strand D Data collection to support modelling work for the move from transitional arrangements to the final payment systems for the new Pharmaceutical Services contract and Chronic Medication Service (CMS)

·         Element/Strand E Participation in Patient Safety initiative to record interventions where pharmacist identifies issues with prescriptions

PCA(P)(2008) 20 also advises contractors on the requirements to fulfil the programme of activities for the first three strands of the programme for 2008-9.

To support the electronic transmission of the audit information and the claiming of the contract preparation payments the Scottish Government has agreed to make available to all contractors Microsoft Office 2003. Contractors who require this package should contact Community Pharmacy Scotland at software.package@communitypharmacyscotland.org.uk leaving their name and address of where they would like the software to be sent.

Activities to be completed

Element/Strand A         
Implementation of eAMS element of ePharmacy

The purpose of the CPP payment is to support contractors to integrate eAMS into their day to day practices. To qualify for payment contractors must complete the following activities:

• Consider and implement any changes to working processes, including new eAMS housekeeping arrangements, in the pharmacy to support eAMS implementation;
• Update standard operating procedures to include eAMS processes;
• Brief pharmacy support staff (and locums) on the impact of eAMS on working practices and address any additional training requirements; and
• Submit electronic claims wherever possible.

In order to support contractors in these tasks. Additional information is to be provided for inclusion in the ePharmacy Toolkit during November. This will include:

• guidance on getting started
• a sample Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) detailing eAMS steps
• an outline of the ePay Road map
• advice on making electronic claims
• further advice on generic housekeeping arrangements
• a guide to work flow in the dispensary.

Once available this information will be placed here and on the Scottish Health on the web Community Pharmacy website.

The situation with regard to community pharmacy software system suppliers who have not yet rolled out eAMS is under regular review. If necessary, alternative arrangements will be explored by a further Circular for community pharmacy contractors who use such systems if they are unable to meet the requirements of this CPP Strand by 31 March 2009 due to non availability of suitable software.

To claim the payment of £1800 single outlet contractors should complete Annex A form and either fax, post or email to PSD.

Contractors with more than one contract who wish to claim centrally for Strand A should complete Annex F-Element/Strand A form and either fax, post or email to PSD.

Element/Strand B         
Data collection as part of a community pharmacy work force audit

The purpose of this contract preparation strand is to undertake a baseline audit of pharmacy contractor staff and their qualifications. The audit will help support NES in the identification of future training needs for Pharmacists and their support staff.

To ensure payment contractors should complete the workforce audit form for all pharmacy support staff and pharmacists who provide pharmaceutical services from the premises. The completed audit form should be sent either electronically to Val.Findlay@nes.scot.nhs.ukor by post to:

Val Findlay,
National Co-ordinator Pharmacy Support Staff Educational Development,
NHS Education for Scotland
3rd Floor,
2 Central Quay,
89 Hydepark Street
Glasgow
G3 8BW

It has been decided that this exercise should reflect the workforce situation in each community pharmacy as at 1^st November 2008.

To claim the payment of £900 single outlet contractors should complete Annex B-Element/Strand B form and either fax, post or email to PSD.

Contractors with more than one contract who wish to claim centrally for Strand B should complete Annex G-Element/Strand B form and either fax, post or email to PSD.

Element/Strand C         
Data collection to inform an audit of the Minor Ailment Service (MAS) and Unscheduled Care support provided by contractors

The Minor Ailment Service has been in place since July 2006 it has now been agreed to conduct a limited term audit to identify the activity levels for all MAS interactions. The audit will be carried out twice during 2008-9. The first time it will be performed is the week beginning 24^th of November and the audit will be repeated three months later on the week beginning 23^rd of February.

Information will be collected using this excel spreadsheet on the number of patients within the specific time period to whom advice is provided by MAS providers, identifying also the therapeutic area concerned, and the number of patients referred on to another clinician.

This data collection exercise will also include an audit of so called 'Unscheduled Care activity'. This is intended to identify both the number of patients receiving treatment under the National Patient Group Direction for Urgent Provision of Repeat Medicine by Pharmacists, and the number of presenting patients referred onwards for treatment by OOH.

The audit form once completed should be sent either electronically to mas.survey@communitypharmacyscotland.org.uk or by post to MAS Survey Community Pharmacy Scotland, 42 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 3HN.

The total payment for this Strand has been set at £900 per contractor. Contractors will be able to claim £450 after the completion and submission of each audit.

To claim the payment of £450 after each audit single outlet contractors should complete Annex C-Element/Strand C form and either fax, post or email to PSD.

Contractors with more than one contract who wish to claim centrally for Strand C should complete Annex H-Element/Strand C form and either fax, post or email to PSD.

Elements/Strands D and E

Further information will be released on these strands at a later date.