Pharmacist joint-working with general practices: evaluating the Sheffield Primary Care Pharmacy Programme. A mixed-methods study
Background: The NHS in the UK supports pharmacists’ deployment into general practices. This article reports on the implementation and impact of the Primary Care Pharmacy Programme (PCPP). The programme is a care delivery model that was undertaken at scale across a city in which community pharmacists...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Royal College of General Practitioners
2018-10-01
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| Series: | BJGP Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://bjgpopen.org/content/2/4/bjgpopen18X101611 |
| _version_ | 1818541405489856512 |
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| author | Iuri Marques Nicola Jane Gray Jo Tsoneva Peter Magirr Alison Blenkinsopp |
| author_facet | Iuri Marques Nicola Jane Gray Jo Tsoneva Peter Magirr Alison Blenkinsopp |
| author_sort | Iuri Marques |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The NHS in the UK supports pharmacists’ deployment into general practices. This article reports on the implementation and impact of the Primary Care Pharmacy Programme (PCPP). The programme is a care delivery model that was undertaken at scale across a city in which community pharmacists (CPs) were matched with general practices and performed clinical duties for one half-day per week. Aim: To investigate (a) challenges of integration of CPs in general practices, and (b) the perceived impact on care delivery and community pharmacy practice. Design & setting: This mixed-methods study was conducted with CPs, community pharmacy employers (CPEs), scheme commissioners (SCs), and patients in Sheffield. Method: Semi-structured interviews (n = 22) took place with CPs (n = 12), CPEs (n = 2), SCs (n = 3), and patients (n = 5). A cross-sectional survey of PCPP pharmacists (n = 47, 66%) was also used. A descriptive analysis of patient feedback forms was undertaken and a database of pharmacist activities was created. Results: Eighty-six of 88 practices deployed a pharmacist. Although community pharmacy contracting and backfill arrangements were sometimes complicated, timely deployment was achieved. Development of closer relationships appeared to facilitate extension of initially agreed roles, including transition from ‘backroom’ to patient-facing clinical work. CPs gained understanding of GP processes and patients’ primary care pathway, allowing them to follow up work at the community pharmacy in a more timely way, positively impacting on patients' and healthcare professionals’ perceived delivery of care. Conclusion: The PCPP scheme was the first of its kind to achieve almost universal uptake by GPs throughout a large city. The study findings reveal the potential for CP–GP joint-working in increasing perceived positive care delivery and reducing fragmented care, and can inform future implementation at scale and at practice level. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T22:08:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e8e7cc985f1d4e83b6fd3ee00fa25075 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2398-3795 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T22:08:51Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | Royal College of General Practitioners |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BJGP Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-e8e7cc985f1d4e83b6fd3ee00fa250752022-12-22T00:48:53ZengRoyal College of General PractitionersBJGP Open2398-37952018-10-012410.3399/bjgpopen18X101611Pharmacist joint-working with general practices: evaluating the Sheffield Primary Care Pharmacy Programme. A mixed-methods studyIuri Marques0Nicola Jane Gray1Jo Tsoneva2Peter Magirr3Alison Blenkinsopp4School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UKGreen Line Consulting Limited, Manchester, UKNHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group, Sheffield, UKNHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group, Sheffield, UKSchool of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UKBackground: The NHS in the UK supports pharmacists’ deployment into general practices. This article reports on the implementation and impact of the Primary Care Pharmacy Programme (PCPP). The programme is a care delivery model that was undertaken at scale across a city in which community pharmacists (CPs) were matched with general practices and performed clinical duties for one half-day per week. Aim: To investigate (a) challenges of integration of CPs in general practices, and (b) the perceived impact on care delivery and community pharmacy practice. Design & setting: This mixed-methods study was conducted with CPs, community pharmacy employers (CPEs), scheme commissioners (SCs), and patients in Sheffield. Method: Semi-structured interviews (n = 22) took place with CPs (n = 12), CPEs (n = 2), SCs (n = 3), and patients (n = 5). A cross-sectional survey of PCPP pharmacists (n = 47, 66%) was also used. A descriptive analysis of patient feedback forms was undertaken and a database of pharmacist activities was created. Results: Eighty-six of 88 practices deployed a pharmacist. Although community pharmacy contracting and backfill arrangements were sometimes complicated, timely deployment was achieved. Development of closer relationships appeared to facilitate extension of initially agreed roles, including transition from ‘backroom’ to patient-facing clinical work. CPs gained understanding of GP processes and patients’ primary care pathway, allowing them to follow up work at the community pharmacy in a more timely way, positively impacting on patients' and healthcare professionals’ perceived delivery of care. Conclusion: The PCPP scheme was the first of its kind to achieve almost universal uptake by GPs throughout a large city. The study findings reveal the potential for CP–GP joint-working in increasing perceived positive care delivery and reducing fragmented care, and can inform future implementation at scale and at practice level.https://bjgpopen.org/content/2/4/bjgpopen18X101611primary health caregeneral practicecommunity pharmacy servicespatient care |
| spellingShingle | Iuri Marques Nicola Jane Gray Jo Tsoneva Peter Magirr Alison Blenkinsopp Pharmacist joint-working with general practices: evaluating the Sheffield Primary Care Pharmacy Programme. A mixed-methods study BJGP Open primary health care general practice community pharmacy services patient care |
| title | Pharmacist joint-working with general practices: evaluating the Sheffield Primary Care Pharmacy Programme. A mixed-methods study |
| title_full | Pharmacist joint-working with general practices: evaluating the Sheffield Primary Care Pharmacy Programme. A mixed-methods study |
| title_fullStr | Pharmacist joint-working with general practices: evaluating the Sheffield Primary Care Pharmacy Programme. A mixed-methods study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pharmacist joint-working with general practices: evaluating the Sheffield Primary Care Pharmacy Programme. A mixed-methods study |
| title_short | Pharmacist joint-working with general practices: evaluating the Sheffield Primary Care Pharmacy Programme. A mixed-methods study |
| title_sort | pharmacist joint working with general practices evaluating the sheffield primary care pharmacy programme a mixed methods study |
| topic | primary health care general practice community pharmacy services patient care |
| url | https://bjgpopen.org/content/2/4/bjgpopen18X101611 |
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