Services Database Dispensing and Reimbursement of Food Thickening Vouchers by Community Pharmacy (County Durham Area)

Aims and Intended Service Outcomes:

• To improve access for people to food thickening products when they are required by
  ensuring prompt access and continuity of supply.
• To support people, carers and clinicians by providing them with up to date information and advice, and referral where appropriate.

Service Description 

• This service is available to patients in the community assessed by CDDFT Speech and
  Language Therapists (SALT) as requiring a food thickener to prevent aspiration and
  admissions for chest infections.
• For this service to be successful patients require immediate access to food thickening
  products via a voucher through community pharmacies.
• Speech and Language Therapy practitioners will assess the patient. If food
  thickening is required, a voucher will be completed by the practitioner.
• The patient or patient’s representative will present the Food Thickening Voucher at a
  participating community pharmacy in the Darlington, DDES and North Durham
  localities.
• The community pharmacy will supply the product requested on the voucher form
  according to the instructions on the voucher.
• The community pharmacy will maintain electronic patient records of supply and retain
  the voucher for audit at the dispensing pharmacy