Services Database Pharmacy First (Across Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell & Wolverhampton – 4 LPCs Involved)

Please note this service is commissioned across Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell and Wolverhampton by the Birmingham, Solihull & Black Country Area Team. Therefore, the following LPCs have the same minor ailment service in their areas:

• Birmingham LPC
• Dudley LPC
• Sandwell LPC
• Wolverhampton City LPC

The service has only been added onto the Services Database under this entry to avoid duplication.

The overall aim of the scheme is to promote and empower patients to self-care when suffering from a minor ailment. Patients exempt from paying prescription charges can access self-care advice for the treatment of minor ailments and, where appropriate, can be supplied with over the counter medicines without the requirement to attend their GP practice for an appointment.

Each patient may only register with one accredited pharmacy and are limited to accessing the scheme up to a maximum of 3 times in a 6 month period.

This service has been commissioned until 31st March 2017. The current service specification ended on 31 March 2015 but contractors have been advised to continue to use this until a new service specification is issued for 1st July 2015.

Accredited pharmacists are expected to attend an annual training event as organised by the Area Team.

The responsible pharmacist in a community pharmacy must complete the CPPE Minor Ailments: A clinical approach (2014) assessment using Responding to Minor Ailments as a reference and submit a copy of the certificate to the Area Team within 3 months of commencing to provide the service. Assessments will need to be repeated every two years if the course is updated by CPPE.

The pharmacy contractor must maintain accurate and up-to-date training logs for each member of staff and ensure that the tailored SOP is available and understood by locum pharmacists.

There are also two optional CPPE distance learning programmes relating to Minor Ailments Services:

• Minor Ailments Services: A starting point for pharmacists; or
• Minor Ailments Services: Pharmacy technicians leading the way.

Local accreditation will take the form of the responsible pharmacist attending an annual training event. The pharmacy contractor must also self-certify to the Area Team that they have read and understood this document issued by the Area Team as per expression of interest form for providing the scheme. It is a mandatory requirement for the responsible pharmacist to attend the local training.

The pharmacy contractor must ensure that staff members, who are involved in the delivery of the service, receive appropriate training and fully understand how the scheme is to be operated.