Community Pharmacists' Views on the Early Stages of Implementation of a National Pilot Independent Prescribing Service in Wales: A Qualitative Study.

Deslandes, R; Hodson, K; Evans, A; Taylor, L; Lucas, C

Community Pharmacists' Views on the Early Stages of Implementation of a National Pilot Independent Prescribing Service in Wales: A Qualitative Study.

Deslandes, R Hodson, K Evans, A Taylor, L Lucas, C

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Publisher:: Dove Medical Press
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice, 2023, 12, pp. 11-23
Issue Date:: 2023

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Deslandes, R
dc.contributor.author	Hodson, K
dc.contributor.author	Evans, A
dc.contributor.author	Taylor, L
dc.contributor.author	Lucas, C https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7857-2338
dc.date.accessioned	2023-10-02T23:43:12Z
dc.date.available	2022-12-23
dc.date.available	2023-10-02T23:43:12Z
dc.date.issued	2023
dc.identifier.citation	Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice, 2023, 12, pp. 11-23
dc.identifier.issn	2230-5254
dc.identifier.issn	2230-5254
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172425
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: A pilot Independent Prescribers' Service (IPS) was introduced in 13 community pharmacies across Wales in June 2020. Independent Pharmacist Prescribers (IPPs) could prescribe in the areas of management of acute conditions, contraception, or opioid withdrawal, as agreed with local commissioners. Access to the patients' medical records was provided via Choose Pharmacy, the national community pharmacy IT platform. OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of IPPs delivering the service and commissioners responsible for financial resources regarding the IPS in Wales. METHODS: A qualitative methodology was employed, with purposive sampling, semi-structured interviews, and inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Five themes were constructed from 13 interviews (n=9 IPPs; n=4 commissioners): (i) patient experience and safety; (ii) professional enablement and rebalancing workload of GPs; (iii) role and limitations of remote consultations; (iv) funding and business model; (v) functionality on Choose Pharmacy to support patient care. The design of the service allowed pharmacists to determine how best to deliver the IPS, maximizing access for patients and promoting a sense of professional value amongst pharmacists. CONCLUSION: This study builds on the body of evidence on enhanced patient experience with prescribing services in the community, reinforcing that IPPs have a key role in rebalancing management of common conditions from GP surgeries to community pharmacies. Several considerations need to be addressed to ensure future success of the service implementation, delivery and enhanced sustainability, such as formal referral pathways and access to medical records. These can be used by other commissioning bodies in the UK and internationally to build a network of suitably supported IPPs, confident to appropriately deal with uncomplicated acute and chronic conditions; and liaise with primary and/or secondary care when referrals are needed.
dc.format	Electronic-eCollection
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Dove Medical Press
dc.relation.ispartof	Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.2147/IPRP.S395322
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
dc.subject.classification	3214 Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
dc.title	Community Pharmacists' Views on the Early Stages of Implementation of a National Pilot Independent Prescribing Service in Wales: A Qualitative Study.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	12
utslib.location.activity	New Zealand
utslib.for	1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Pharmacy
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2023-10-02T23:43:09Z
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	12

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: A pilot Independent Prescribers' Service (IPS) was introduced in 13 community pharmacies across Wales in June 2020. Independent Pharmacist Prescribers (IPPs) could prescribe in the areas of management of acute conditions, contraception, or opioid withdrawal, as agreed with local commissioners. Access to the patients' medical records was provided via Choose Pharmacy, the national community pharmacy IT platform. OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of IPPs delivering the service and commissioners responsible for financial resources regarding the IPS in Wales. METHODS: A qualitative methodology was employed, with purposive sampling, semi-structured interviews, and inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Five themes were constructed from 13 interviews (n=9 IPPs; n=4 commissioners): (i) patient experience and safety; (ii) professional enablement and rebalancing workload of GPs; (iii) role and limitations of remote consultations; (iv) funding and business model; (v) functionality on Choose Pharmacy to support patient care. The design of the service allowed pharmacists to determine how best to deliver the IPS, maximizing access for patients and promoting a sense of professional value amongst pharmacists. CONCLUSION: This study builds on the body of evidence on enhanced patient experience with prescribing services in the community, reinforcing that IPPs have a key role in rebalancing management of common conditions from GP surgeries to community pharmacies. Several considerations need to be addressed to ensure future success of the service implementation, delivery and enhanced sustainability, such as formal referral pathways and access to medical records. These can be used by other commissioning bodies in the UK and internationally to build a network of suitably supported IPPs, confident to appropriately deal with uncomplicated acute and chronic conditions; and liaise with primary and/or secondary care when referrals are needed.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172425