The NPA, supported by an educational grant from GSK +plus, has produced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) resource to equip pharmacists in England and Wales in providing advice and support to people caring for themselves or their families.
The provision of advice and support to people caring for themselves has always been an important role of community pharmacy. It is now an essential service in the new pharmacy contract and is also closely linked to two other essential services; promotion of healthy lifestyles and signposting. The SOP is also recommended for the sale of medicines, including the sale of vitamins and other food supplements.
Michelle Styles, Head of NPA Information, comments: “In the past, self-care has always been taken to mean the management of minor ailments. However, the new definition of self-care encompasses the complete spectrum from illness prevention through to management of long-term conditions. This resource will help pharmacists tackle the daunting task of developing a SOP for self-care.”
Richard Heath, Director of Commercial Operations at GSK comments, “This SOP resource is designed to prepare pharmacists for three essential services, covering about 80% of all self-care situations. It is a valuable tool in the range of resources GSK and the NPA have collaboratively produced to aid the efficient management of their business and meet changing obligations and responsibilities.”
The resource is being distributed to all NPA members in England and Wales by GSK +Plus and will thereafter be downloadable from the NPA members’ website. For further information about the resource, please contact Michelle Styles on 01727 858687 ext. 3206.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) was established in 1921 as the trade association of community pharmacy owners. To reflect the changes in the pharmacy environment the NPA now extends membership and its associated benefits to all members of the community pharmacy infrastructure.
2. The Working in Partnership Programme (WiPP) has recently run events for PCOs and primary health care practitioners that have allowed participants to view and use the tools that are available. This means that many PCOs may now be considering supporting the WiPP self-care training programme locally, within their practices. Community pharmacists who are interested in this training programme should either contact the Self-Care Lead in their PCO, the Head of Medicines Management or talk informally to their local practices to establish if this programme is being considered in their area.
For further information, please contact NPA Marketing on 01727 858687 ext. 3227, 3529 or 3530 or email: communications@npa.co.uk
