Pharmacy First myth busting series (#6)

This is the sixth of a series of articles to tackle some of the misconceptions around Pharmacy First. The articles will cover a variety of aspects of Pharmacy First and aims to myth bust, to increase understanding of the service.

I can rely on my Pharmacy First IT system to highlight if the patient is excluded from the clinical pathway/Patient Group Direction and I therefore know when I should not make a supply.
Wrong! The Pharmacy First IT systems do not currently highlight if the patient does not meet the clinical pathway or PGD requirements, for example, if their age or sex excludes them.

Pharmacists must be familiar with the clinical pathways and PGDs when providing the service to ensure they are not providing an illegal supply to a patient outside of the clinical pathway/PGD requirements.

I can use my professional discretion to make a supply to a patient who does not meet the inclusion criteria for one of the PGDs.
Wrong! The clinical pathways and PGDs cannot be deviated from; they must be followed when deciding if it is appropriate or not to supply a medicine to a patient under the Clinical pathway strand of the service. The PGD provides the legal basis for the provision of the medicine; professional discretion cannot be used to make a supply of a POM outside the provisions of the PGD.

It is mandatory to complete the CPPE/NHS England Pharmacy First self assessment.
Wrong! Use of the framework is not a mandatory requirement, but pharmacists will need a method by which to assess their competence and identify any gaps in their learning; the self-assessment framework is designed to help them do that.

Trainee pharmacists can provide the Pharmacy First service.
Wrong! Only a pharmacist can provide the service. However, with the consent of the patient, a trainee pharmacist could participate in the consultation to support their learning and development. For example, they could be involved in the discussion with the patient or examining them. A pharmacist would need to be present in the consultation to provide support and direct clinical supervision of the trainee pharmacist. That pharmacist would be responsible for the provision of the service and would retain professional responsibility for the care of the patient, including where necessary, making the decision on the supply of any medicine as an emergency supply or under one of the PGDs for the clinical pathways.

View additional myths on our Pharmacy First myth busting page