New roles in PCNs

As well as employing pharmacy technicians and pharmacists’ general practice has been given funding for additional roles.

Social prescribing link workers address people’s health needs in a holistic way and support them to take greater control of their own health. They may refer people to activities such as gardening, befriending, cookery, and a range of sports. They may also offer healthy eating advice.

Other new roles being introduced in primary care networks (PCNs) include physician associates, first contact physiotherapists and first contact paramedics. Find out whether your PCN has employed a social prescribing link worker. If so, contact them and find out whether you can refer people to them from your pharmacy.

MDTs in care homes

Many PCNs have a separate multidisciplinary team for care homes residents. The care homes MDT undertakes structured medication reviews during a ‘home round’ and offers personally tailored care plans to residents to improve quality of life and reduce unnecessary or inappropriate medicines. If your community pharmacy provides medicines for care home residents, you may receive information from the MDT following a home round, if a resident’s medicines have been changed.