Minister for Health publishes final report of the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly recently published the report of the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy.
The Expert Group has recommended that pharmacists should be able to prescribe for a range of common conditions. They have recommended an initial list of eight conditions, which the Group said can be extended over time as the service evolves. The Group has also recommended the development, over the coming years, of more widespread models of pharmacist prescribing across the health service.
Common conditions
Enabling pharmacists to prescribe for common conditions, or minor ailments, means pharmacists expand their scope of practise and can provide advice and treat common conditions.
This will enable pharmacists to prescribe prescription-only medicines through established protocols.
As recommended by the Taskforce, an initial list of eight conditions will be included to allow pharmacists working in a community pharmacy to provide treatment to patients:
- Allergic rhinitis.
- Cold sores.
- Conjunctivitis.
- Impetigo.
- Oral thrush.
- Shingles.
- Uncomplicated UTI/cystitis.
- Vulvovaginal thrush.
Pharmacists will be given the opportunity to undertake training to deliver this new service.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) will arrange for the delivery of this training, which will delivered over the coming months. Patients will then be able to access treatment in a community pharmacy for these eight conditions to begin with.
Independent prescribing
The Taskforce has also recommended the development of models of pharmacist prescribing across the health service. In other countries,this has involved pharmacists prescribing for more complex conditions in specific settings. The Minister has asked officials to examine how best to apply these models in an Irish context.
Minister Donnelly said: “I established the Expert Taskforce to identify ways in which pharmacists can use their expertise to increase their already significant contribution to our healthcare service. Pharmacists are highly trusted, highly accessible and highly skilled. They’re In every town and village in Ireland. They are not yet being supported to work to their full potential.
“Today’s report was produced by experts including doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals. It provides an provides an excellent roadmap for the further expansion of pharmacists’ roles.
“It recommends that we begin by supporting pharmacists to prescribe for certain conditions under a new Common Conditions Service. Various countries, including England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Canada and New Zealand have already initiated pharmacist prescribing.
I have written to a number of organisations, including the PSI and the IPU, to invite them onto an implementation group in order to ensure there is no delay in rolling out this service.
“What we are announcing today represents an important change,” he continued. “The move will also alleviate pressure on GPs. I want this Common Conditions Service to be in place in early 2025. The service will be scaled-up over time, but we will start with these conditions.
“There is huge public support for this. My Department conducted a public consultation on pharmacy in Ireland, and the feedback received was very encouraging, with eight-in-10 (83 per cent) in favour of a Common Conditions Service.”
Work to be done
However, marking the announcement, the IPU has warned that a funding plan is required for full implementation of the plans.
Tom Murray, President of the Irish Pharmacy Union, said: “The Taskforce and Minister Donnelly are to be commended for getting the process to this stage. However, a lot of work still needs to be done before implementation can happen. This will require all stakeholders engaging in a collaborative way and agreeing the various protocols and addressing all funding issues.”
Highlighting initiatives that will deliver a significant benefit, Mr Murray commented: “The introduction of a Common Clinical Conditions scheme could be among the most impactful changes in Irish Healthcare in decades. This will allow all people to access pharmacy care for minor conditions in the convenience of their pharmacy.”
He went on to say, “as the global problem of medicines shortages continues, we look forward to the introduction of a serious shortage protocol which will allow community pharmacists source a clinically appropriate alternative in the event of a particular medicine being in short supply, thereby ensuring that the patient is looked after in a timely manner.
“Extended prescribing is another initiative which should make matters more convenient and easier for patients,” Mr Murray added.
Central to this is supporting the vision of Sláintecare, where access to services is based on clinical need not ability to pay and equal access to healthcare, said the IPU. This requires a sustainable pharmacy service and investment in pharmacy services is a key element to that.
Pay claims
Mr Murray said he now expects engagement with the Department of Health to progress these changes and the outstanding pay claim on the basis that there is an agreement that any new services and the pay claim would be dealt with in the round. “The IPU would recommend to members not to implement any new services until there was progress in respect of the pay claim,” he added.
“Community pharmacists are effectively being paid less than they were in 2009 and the notion of layering on new schemes to an already underfunded and resourced group of healthcare professionals would not be credible, tenable or acceptable.”
The PSI also welcomed the announcement to progress the phase two recommendations by the Expert Taskforce.
“We welcome the announcement by Minister Donnelly and the continued commitment to progress the recommendations in the final report from the Expert Taskforce,” said Joanne Kissane, Registrar and Chief Officer, PSI, and member of the Expert Taskforce. “These recommendations are another important milestone, providing clear policy direction and roadmap for delivery of an expanded scope of practice for pharmacists, for the benefit of patients and the health system.
“It further reflects the important role that pharmacists, as medicine experts and healthcare professionals with a unique set of skills, can play as part of an integrated healthcare system.
Patient outcomes
“[The] acceptance by Minister Donnelly of the report and the successful implementation of the recommendations contained therein will contribute positively to improved patient outcomes, alleviate pressure within the health system, facilitate delivery of enhanced care both in community and hospital settings, and utilise to maximum effect, for patient and public good, the skills, training and accessibility of pharmacists.
“The report, which was contributed to by the PSI as members of and participants in the work of the Expert Taskforce, aligns with our commitment to ensuring pharmacy practice and policy is informed by evidence-based research. We also recognise and commend the important contribution of members of the public and patients in the work of the Expert Taskforce.
“As the regulatory body charged with protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public by regulating pharmacists and pharmacies, the PSI’s focus is to ensure the necessary training, education, and regulatory supports are in place for pharmacists as an enhanced role and scope of practice is progressed for pharmacy.”
