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NPA viewpoint: support for self care and signposting

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NPA viewpoint: support for self care and signposting

The NPA has launched new resources to help pharmacy teams provide support for self care and signposting

Support for self care and signposting are Essential services under the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF). To help pharmacy teams provide these services, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) Pharmacy Services Team has launched a suite of new resources.

These resources include a self care and signposting directory, a template standard operating procedure (SOP) and guidance to help meet the requirements under the Community Pharmacy Assurance Framework (CPAF) for contract monitoring in England. There is also information on staff training and record keeping requirements, as well as specific guidance for distance selling pharmacies. The general principles covered in the resources are applicable to pharmacies across the UK.

The SOP covers the steps that should be followed when providing support for self care and signposting to customers, patients or their representatives. Pharmacy teams can then use the NPA self care and signposting directory for a list of national support services and organisations, which can be useful when signposting customers and patients to other sources of information.

Pharmacy teams should consider:

  • Storing all signposting and referral information (including record and referral forms and SOPs for self care and signposting) in one location, either electronically or in printed form
  • Contacting local healthcare professionals to establish a policy for referral so that they are aware of your referral procedures. Local healthcare professionals can also be asked to provide you with feedback on the appropriateness of the pharmacy’s referrals
  • Confirming within the pharmacy team who is trained to provide specific advice to customers, patients or representatives and under what circumstances. Ensure team members are confident with knowing when to refer to a more senior or experienced member of staff (possibly the Responsible Pharmacist)
  • Obtaining information leaflets and signposting advice in different languages if your pharmacy is located in an area with large ethnic groups speaking different languages.

In certain cases, it is necessary to keep and maintain records of prescription-linked healthy advice provided, interventions or referrals made and/or any products supplied to patients and customers. A pharmacy referral and intervention book can be used to ensure appropriate records are kept (these can be obtained from the NPA Sales Department, if required).

On a separate topic, new resources are being added regularly to the NPA’s Support Your Local Pharmacy campaign hub. One such resource is a note that pharmacy teams can give to patients who wish to know more about the campaign. The ‘Dear Patient’ notice explains the threat to local pharmacy services and how patients can help by signing the campaign petition, which has now reached over half a million signatures.

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