RPS publishes guide for pharmacy leaders

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has published an online guide for pharmacists who lead, or aspire to lead, multidisciplinary healthcare teams in English NHS systems.

The document, ‘A Systems Approach to Medicines Optimisation and Pharmacy’, is designed to support pharmacists working to optimise medicines use in primary care networks, integrated care systems and sustainability and transformation partnerships.

It directs users to resources and guidance on systems leadership, and includes case studies of pharmacists who, as part of wider healthcare teams, have improved medicines optimisation and patient care.

Amandeep Doll, an RPS regional liaison pharmacist, launched the guide at the Clinical Pharmacy Congress, which was held in London on 7 and 8 June 2019. The guide is the product of research and engagement carried out by Doll and the Society’s two other regional liaison pharmacists: Nicola Gray and Stephanie West.

“The ‘NHS Long Term Plan’ and GP contract encourage collaborative working with colleagues and other healthcare professionals to meet local population health needs”, said Sandra Gidley, chair of the RPS English Pharmacy Board. “The challenge going forward is to ensure pharmacists are formally involved in the care systems that will deliver the plan.

“Pharmacist leaders must identify where in local and regional systems they can work collaboratively and across traditional boundaries to embed pharmacy services and medicines optimisation where they will have the most impact.

“A systems approach to medicines optimisation and pharmacy is part of our support for members working to improve medicines optimisation. We hope that other pharmacists will contribute their experiences and share good practice in this rapidly changing environment.”