Services Database Nicotine Replacement Therapy Voucher Scheme (Lancashire Area)

3.1 Aims and objectives of service

The service is designed to meet the following aims for:

Patients

• To improve access to and choice of Stop Smoking Services, including access to pharmacological and non-pharmacological stop smoking aids
• To reduce smoking related illnesses and deaths by helping people to quit smoking
• To improve the health of the population by reducing exposure to second-hand smoke
• To reduce waiting times for smoking cessation treatment
• To offer an alternative to a GP consultation
• To remove anxiety about “bothering a doctor”

Primary Care - G.Ps

• To reduce inappropriate consultations
• To help achieve access targets
• To reduce the number of smoking related hospital admissions

Pharmacists

• To provide an opportunity to work more closely with healthcare providers and raise the profile of community pharmacy
• To deliver the vision of the Pharmacy White Paper, Building on Strengths Delivering the future
• To deliver against the long-term plan NHS Long Term Plan » Possible legislative change
• Integrating care with community health services Integration and innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all (HTML version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Pharmacist Training & Qualifications
Pharmacists involved in the provision and/or accountability of this service must have completed the ‘Stop Smoking – very brief advice’ e-package (NCSCT version) and the distance learning package ‘Stop Smoking’ available from the Centre for Postgraduate Pharmaceutical Education (CPPE). These packages are available on the CPPE website: https://www.cppe.ac.uk

Pharmacy Technician Training & Qualifications
Qualified Dispensing Technicians (NVQ level 3) must have received training by the Stop Smoking Service to supply NRT under the scheme. Registered Technicians are also encouraged to complete the CPPE package.