Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Accepted
Paragraph: 113
Mandate Pharmacy First evaluation assesses digital systems' data sharing for patient safety and care.
Recommendation
We recommend that the ongoing evaluation of Pharmacy First includes an assessment of the extent to which pharmacy and general practice digital systems are enabling the necessary data sharing to protect patient safety and ensure continuity of care.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating that the National Institute for Health and Care Research study evaluating Pharmacy First includes a specific line of inquiry to review the effectiveness of GP minor illness referrals and data exchange between pharmacy and general practice to inform future service developments.
Paragraph Reference:
113
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Accept NHS England is committed to ongoing monitoring of all services, including Pharmacy First to understand ways we can improve access and support provided. For Pharmacy First, this includes oversight of medicine supply, claims systems and exchange of information between community pharmacy and general practice. The National Institute for Health and Care Research study that has been established to evaluate Pharmacy First has a line of inquiry to review the effectiveness of GP minor illness referrals to community pharmacy and we will use the outputs from that to inform any future service developments. Pharmacists must sign up to the national Data Sharing Agreement as part of the registration process for Pharmacy First, which ensures the necessary data sharing agreements are in place to protect patient safety.