SOMERSET LOCAL PHARMACEUTICAL COMMITTEE

Minutes of the Meeting of the Somerset Local Pharmaceutical Committee held at Ash House Hotel, Ash, Nr Martock on Wednesday 9th November 2016.

Present: A Downing (Chairman); A Harker; Mrs F Norman; R Smyth; Ms E Waller;

P Whitaker; G Winter; R Yadav

In Attendance: N Woollcombe-Adams (Secretary), M Lennox (Chief Officer), Mrs Y Lamb

(Engagement Officer), and Mrs M Pennington.

1.  Apologies for Absence – G Morris and Ms H Elliott.

2.  Declarations of Interest – None.

3.  CCA Report – RS agreed to do this.

4.  Minutes of the Last Meeting – Agreed as a correct record of the proceedings.

5.  Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Last Meeting –

a)  Item 10 – Deemed to be a success.

b)  Item 13b – CPPE Representative would be joining the meeting later.

c)  Item 13e – 99 Somerset County Council employees had been vaccinated, and other flu vaccinations in Somerset administered by pharmacists now totalled 8,180. 92 Contractors are participating.

d)  Item 13f – David Bearman’s initiative was making positive progress towards a full launch in April 2017.

e)  Item 13h – Marina Muirhead’s departure had slowed down progress, but expectations were still positive.

f)  Item 18a – Lloyds had now secured all payments due.

6.  Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Executive Meeting dated 11th October 2016 –

a)  Item 6 – Whilst Community Pharmacy was likely to lose individuals, it was agreed that there was a need to support the initiative and work inclusively with GP surgery pharmacists.

b)  Item 7 – Hard to reach potential patients for flu vaccinations. This initiative is somewhat late in the day due to GP disinterest.

c)  Item 8 – Additional CCA Representative – NWA to chase up CCA.

d)  Item 11 – EPS – Engagement and support would be sought when areas were rolled out. Liaison with CPPE would be needed. It was noted that SCR funding was coming to an end in April 2017, and that Contractors needed to be reminded that although forms were being submitted there was a tendency for them to be ignored. MP/YL to put guidance on the website.

7.  Correspondence –

AH submitted a report on the recent Urgent Care meeting.

8.  Gluten Free Foods Withdrawal of Funding –

It was noted that GPs were not necessarily happy about this, nor were dieticians. Whilst now off formulary GFF prescriptions were reimbursable as Drug Tarif items. LPC agreed to mirror LMC advice. YL would coordinate.

9.  Provider Company –

ML had met with Health Care Together, and the latest Articles of Association were due to be debated at a joint meeting of the three South West LPCs on 17th November. ML circulated a memorandum about the proposed Board composition and company financing model. A response was awaited from CCA Members on the proposed funding, and in particular as to whether the suggestion of a modest levy increase would be acceptable to them. Agreed that this would be an egalitarian and inclusive approach. The Committee felt that three lay members were not necessary, and that the only lay member should be the Chairman.

10.  Service Development and Communications Working Groups –

Sharon Wesselby from Pfizer and Katherine Hilton from CPPE joined the meeting. ML introduced the session, and members were divided into break out groups to look at “Mission” and “Vision”. Major issues and deliverables needed to be prioritised over the next three quarters.

11.  Budget/Treasurer’s Report –

It was noted that the money had come in from Pharmoutcomes, and the sponsorship of the engagement events. The overall financial position was deemed to be satisfactory. PSNC had emphasised that with the current uncertainties in the world of Community Pharmacy, any excess resources should be used to aid the fighting of cuts.

Professional Registration Fees – The Committee agreed that it would be appropriate for the LPC to pay these on a pro rata basis for YL. This would amount to £70.

12.  Chief Officer’s Update –

a)  Flu – Certain GPs were complaining that they were not being informed of flu vaccinations. This was because they did not have an NHS.net email address. It was noted that details of SCC staff vaccinated needed to be remitted on time. YL was dealing with these discrepancies.

b)  French Weir/St James GP Practices Taunton – Noted that these were relocating.

c)  Safety Alerts for Pharmacies – YL coordinating with the CCG.

d)  Westminster Meeting with Sarah Wollaston – NWA to update Mark Stone (Devon LPC) on MPs from Somerset who might be attending. ML, AD and FN will be attending the event on behalf of Somerset LPC.

e)  PSNC Conference – The Community Pharmacy Access Scheme, Pharmacy Quality Scheme and the Single Activity Fee had been outlined and discussed. Details to be covered in a PSNC webinar. A pharmacy will qualify for PHAS if that pharmacy is more than one mile from another pharmacy. The qualifying pharmacy will need to be included in the pharmacy list of September 2016, and not in the top quartile by dispensing volume. 1,356 pharmacies will qualify, seventeen of which are in the Somerset LPC area. The scheme will run until March 2018.

100 points will be available for Quality Payments. There will be eight criteria to be fulfilled with £64 per point value. NHS Choices will need to be up to date, NHS email available, using EPS, provide a minimum of one Advanced Service, and reaching HLP Level One (YL would ascertain whether Independents would like to attend a support event before Christmas), Level One Safe Guarding Training completed, publish CPPQ results, access to SCR, staff trained as dementia friends, and NHS 111 details up to date.

f)  Pharmacy Integration Fund - £42,000,000 available over the next two years which would be open to bids. The fund is being run by NHSE. The targeting of Care Homes support was a possible subject for a bid.

13.  Somerset Health and Well Being Board –

NWA up dated the Committee on the latest position of the STP.

14.  Report of the Applications Sub Committee –

It was noted that one of the three applications in Coleford had been granted.

15.  Dates and Places of Next Meetings –

LPC full Committee would meet at Ash House on Wednesday 18th January 2017 at 9.30am, and the Executive Committee would meet at the Nags Head Thornfalcon on Tuesday 13th December at 7.15 pm.

16.  Any Other Business –

a)  ML would endeavour to resolve the confusion over the notification of Christmas opening.

b)  New Contract – This would be an imposition and not a negotiation.

c)  Noted that pharmacies would be able to have a staff member with the ability to unblock Smart Cards.