RPS to host sessions to help shape response for NHS primary care review

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) will be hosting two sessions for members to help them shape response to an NHS review of primary care in England.

The sessions will be held on March 15 and March 24 at 7.00pm and will be open to members working in all settings, including primary and secondary care, RPS stated.

The ‘Fuller Stocktake’ review is focusing on how best primary care, including community pharmacy, can be supported within the emergent Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) to meet the health needs of people in their local areas.

It will cover a range of issues, including:

• Workforce, including leadership and education
• Collection and use of data and information
• Working with communities and how best to engage with them
• Physical access to care
• Non-physical access to care including use of technology and remote consultations
• Governance and decision making which includes local contracting

Commenting on the review, RPS England chair Thorrun Govind said: “This review is an important part of how the government and NHS are examining the future of health and care in England.

“Whether it is delivering more integrated care, utilising new technologies, or developing our workforce, these reforms must have improving patient care at their heart.

“Pharmacists working right across the health service continue to put patients first and I know will play a key role in how we transform services for the future.

“These sessions will help inform our ongoing engagement with the NHS about the Fuller Stocktake and what this means alongside wider changes to the NHS.

“We want to hear from pharmacists working across care settings and I would encourage members to attend.”