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Record learning outcomes

Jay Patel, director and chief information officer at Day Lewis, explains the benefits of a second pharmacist model

AT DAY LEWIS we have always seen the shift from supply to services as an opportunity rather than a threat. It's an opportunity for pharmacy to be recognised as integral to the NHS and a chance to make a real difference to the lives of our patients.

Why two pharmacists?

In 2014 we became the first chain to have a healthy living pharmacy pharmacist and health champion in each pharmacy, but along the way we identified several challenges:

€¢ We soon realised that pharmacist capacity was limiting the ability to deliver services

€¢ Some experienced pharmacists, while exceptional at maintaining clinical governance standards and building patient relations, required coaching to deliver services

€¢ Newly qualified pharmacists were finding it difficult to get employment and, while being service-orientated, often lacked experience with clinical governance and effective patient engagement

Our solution was to recruit second pharmacists from a pool of our best newly qualifieds. They would become pharmacy support pharmacists (PSP), supporting the service agenda while still being mentored by experienced managers.

How did we recruit?

Internal pre-registration students were invited to a whole-day event after sitting their exam. The day involved:

€¢ Face-to-face interviews around vision and values

€¢ Mock MUR consultations

€¢ Presentations around their clinical skills.

From the 30 we selected, 10 have been recruited as PSPs

What is their role?

The role of a PSP is to:

€¢ Visit our regional pharmacies and support their service delivery €¢ Train up for all enhanced and private services offered in each location including smoking cessation, private/NHS flu and private PGDs

€¢ Increase NMS interventions

€¢ Cover the pharmacist to deliver services and visit surgeries

€¢ Share best practice between the pharmacies

What are rules?

€¢ They are not allowed to replace dispensers

€¢ They must submit their service outcomes weekly

€¢ They must not focus on low hanging fruit (MURs)

€¢ They must deliver services legally and safely

€¢ Manager vacancies are offered to PSPs first.

What has gone well?

€¢ The pharmacy teams welcomed these new additions and did not see them as a threat

€¢ The second pharmacists feel supported by their senior colleagues and are enthusiastic

€¢ Pharmacy support teams have benefited from having two pharmacists, especially the HLP health champions.

What are we planning on changing?

€¢ Making the recording of services by PSPs automated

€¢ To include PSPs in extensive management training programmes

Plans for the future?

The trial has proved successful and our HLP vision is being realised. We have therefore decided to double the number of second pharmacists and to use this additional resource to take pharmacy services into the community.

At a time when pharmacists and pharmacy teams are under increasing pressure, we have found this approach has improved patient outcomes, staff morale and pharmacy profits.