Pharmacy in the Future

"The Government is setting out its vision of how pharmacy can play a part in delivering the vision of the new NHS... to give patients the right care at the right time, in the right way and of the right quality".

A number of initiatives are being introduced to fulfil this vision. At the PPA, the data capture, pricing, and schedule systems have been changed to implement these initiatives. Information Systems have been amended to report management information on the initiatives.

Repeat Dispensing

Patients in 'Pathfinder' areas will be able to obtain repeat dispensing from a pharmacy without having to visit the GP each time to obtain a new prescription. A GP will issue a single 'Authorising' FP10 prescription form and the required number of 'Batch Issue' FP10 prescription forms. The patient will present all forms at an approved Repeat Dispensing Pathfinder Site pharmacy. The dispensing of a 'Batch Issue' form will be controlled and pharmacists will monitor the effectiveness of the course of treatment.

Repeat dispensing is being rolled out to up to 40 more PCT sites by the beginning of 2004. It is planned that all English pharmacies will offer repeat dispensing services by April 2004.

Local Pharmaceutical Services (LPS)

LPS contracts (between a pharmacy and PCT) have been set up since March 2003 to provide services such as medicines management, health promotion and disease prevention. LPS contractor submit dispensed FP10 prescription forms to the PPA for reimbursement of the cost of the drug / appliance, but not remuneration of fees. Instead of fees, the PPA make local payments to the LPS contractor when authorised by the PCT. PCTs are responsible for informing the PPA of contractor status.


Out of Hours Providers (non-FP10 Supply)

'There will be new quality standards and closer integration between NHS Direct and GP out-of-hours services... a single phone call to NHS Direct will be a one-stop gateway to out-of-hours healthcare, passing on calls to the appropriate GP co-operative or deputising service'

An out-of-hours provider can supply drugs, dressings, etc from stock based on a Patient Group Direction (PGD). This is known as non-FP10 supply. Previously the PPA did not capture non-FP10 data. A new form (FP10PREC) to capture this data will be completed by the out-of-hours provider and submitted to the PPA. Where this is not a submission for payment, reimbursement processing will not take place. PPA information systems have been changed to incorporate and report on non-FP10 data. This information is not being processed yet but the functionality is available to process the information when it is received.