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The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has launched a commission that will examine new ways in which patient care can be improved though the better use of pharmacy.
The commission on Future Models of Care Through Pharmacy is chaired by Dr Judith Smith, Director of Policy at the independent charitable research foundation the Nuffield Trust. The commission will highlight existing and emerging examples of innovative services delivered through pharmacy. It will suggest ways in which implementation could be enabled, and relate this to the wider world of health care.
The commission will report in Autumn 2013. It will seek the views of pharmacists, other health professions, policy makers, health managers, patients and the public, who will be asked to contribute examples of innovative service provision involving pharmacy, and their views about what helps or hinders the development of these new services.
Details of how the commission will seek views and carry out its work are set out on the commission website www.rpharms.com/futuremodels.
Commission Chair, Judith Smith said:
“To provide high quality care in an age of financial austerity, we need to think differently about when, where and how people access advice, screening, and care for many of their health concerns. Pharmacy already plays a major role in this, but we know that role could be extended, in partnership with other health professions. I am delighted to have been asked to chair this commission which will look at innovative ways in which pharmacy can deliver care, and”
Ash Soni, Royal Pharmaceutical Society England Board said:
“This commission is one of the most important pieces of work the RPS English Pharmacy Board will undertake for the foreseeable future. The time is absolutely right for us to ask challenging questions about how pharmacy could and should contribute more to the newly reformed NHS in England where better patient outcomes and improved quality of care will be demanded alongside significant savings. We must now think about how to configure healthcare differently, breaking down traditional barriers and centring services on the needs of patients and the public. I am hugely excited about the potential for change. I would urge everyone to help us through contributing their thoughts, ideas and evidence over the next six weeks.”
Shilpa Gohil, Royal Pharmaceutical Society England Board Chair said:
“I am very proud that the English Board is leading this exciting project. When I was elected a board chair I said I would make the most of all the talents around the table and I am pleased that my Vice Chair Ash Soni will be supporting the RPS commission project team. The English Board also has a large and important piece of work to do in making a substantial and influential submission to the commission. My focus over the coming weeks will be ensure that we can come to consensus around the future models of care my board feels are key to improving the health of patients through pharmacy.”
