Services Database Improving Inhaler Technique through Community Pharmacy (Cheshire East)

Aims and Intended Service Outcomes
The aim is to provide a service for patients using inhaled medication that achieves:
• Improved patient outcomes through:
o Assessment of inhaler technique, use and care of spacing device as appropriate.
o Improved patient understanding and hence adherence with inhaler therapy
o Optimum use of inhaler therapy
o A reduction in adverse events associated with inhaler treatment
• Reduction in waste of inhaler therapies through:
o Improved inhaler technique and improved use of therapies, leading to a reduction in
wasted doses
o A possible reduction in prescribed inhalers for poorly controlled conditions
o Patients being encouraged to order only the prescription items that they need
o Eco-friendly disposal of inhalers
• Measurable outcomes
o Reduced prescribing of reliever inhalers as preventer inhalers are used more
effectively
o Reduced need for additional therapy for poorly controlled asthma
o Prescription synchronisation as only the inhalers needed are ordered leading to a
reduction in time spent both ordering and dispensing repeat medication and the
possibility of excess ordering being reduced
• Improved management of patient’s asthma, measured through the use of technique
demonstration and standard questions at initial screening and during follow up consultation
(ACT score)
• Encourage safe disposal of inhalers

Prior to commencing delivery of this service, Pharmacists must self-declare their competence using the ‘Declaration of Competence (DOC) for Improving Inhaler Technique though Community Pharmacy’ available at www.cppe.ac.uk. Pharmacists should ensure they re-declare in line with the requirements of DOC; this is usually every three years.
Note – attendance at a locally arranged event does not preclude a Pharmacist commencing service delivery, they are able to watch the virtual training session online but can start to deliver the service if the DOC has been completed.
As a minimum we would recommend you complete the following modules:
• Inhaler technique for health professionals; getting it right
• Consultation skills
• Consulting with children and young people
• Safeguarding
The Responsible Pharmacist should provide initial and ongoing support to any Pharmacy Technicians new to delivering this service. The clinical and professional responsibility for overall service delivery remains with the Pharmacist.