SOLIHULL NHS CARE TRUST
LOCAL ENHANCED SERVICES OUT OF HOURS ACCESS TO MEDICINES (ROTA SERVICES)
Out of Hours Access to Medicines (Rota Services)
Contract Between
Solihull NHS Care Trust
and
…………………………………….Pharmacy
1. Aims
1.1 To improve access for patients to medicines when they are required by ensuring prompt access and continuity of supply.
1.2 To support people, carers and clinicians by providing them with information and advice on medicines and referral to other sources of assistance where appropriate.
2. Service Outline
Pharmacists will need to demonstrate that they are providing this service in line with the specification.
The outline of this is:
2.1 The pharmacy will supply medicines in response to the presentation of NHS prescriptions.
2.2 The pharmacy contractor has a duty to ensure that pharmacists and staff involved in the provision of the service have relevant knowledge and are appropriately qualified and trained in the operation of the service.
2.3 The pharmacy contractor has a duty to ensure that pharmacists and staff involved in the provision of the service are aware of and operate within the local protocols as detailed below.
2.4 The pharmacy should maintain appropriate records to ensure effective ongoing audit and service planning.
To include specifically:
· Number of NHS prescriptions they are presented with
· Number of items contained in these
· Number of requests the Pharmacist has received for Health advice / over the counter medicines
2.5 Terms of agreement are between Solihull Care Trust and the pharmacy to provide an Out of Hours (Access to Medicines) service on the agreed Bank Holiday dates and Easter Sunday.
The Pharmacy is expected to provide this service to the same professional and quality standards as the essential services within the Pharmacy Contractual framework.
The Pharmacy must give due consideration to security procedures and ensure that no member of staff is working alone whilst the Pharmacy is open during this rota period.
2.6 The PCO will provide a framework for the recording of relevant service information for the purposes of audit and the claiming of payment.
3. Quality Indicators
3.1 The pharmacy reviews its standard operating procedure and the referral pathways for the service on an annual basis.
3.2 The pharmacy participates in an annual Care Trust organised audit of service provision if requested to do so.
3.3 The pharmacy co-operates with any locally agreed Care Trust-led assessment of service user experience.
4. Payment Schedule
4.1 The pharmacy must submit a Rota claim form to the Shared Services agency to claim payment and confirm that they have provided the service.
4.2 In 2008/09 each Pharmacy contracted to provide this service will receive:
Standard Bank holidays
· £185 for 1 hour
Special Bank Holidays
· £250 for 1 hour
· £500 for 2 hours
This schedule is current at the time of issue; annual updates to the payment schedule will be sent to pharmacists.
4.3 The Care Trust maintains the right to suspend payments to pharmacists under this agreement should there be any cause for concern in relation to terms of the agreement not being maintained or if there are grounds for concern around the quality of the service. These issues will be discussed with the practice as part of the contract monitoring and quality assurance process.
5. Disputes
5.1 In the event of disagreement or dispute, the Care Trust and the pharmacist manager will use best endeavours to resolve the dispute without recourse to formal arbitration. If unsuccessful, the matter will be determined in accordance with the normal contractual dispute resolution procedure.
6. Termination
6.1 Either party may terminate this agreement by giving at least three months’ notice of termination, or sooner by mutual agreement.
6.2 The Care Trust reserves the right to review and update this service specification in line with national recommendations and /or best practice. Three months’ notice will be given of these changes where possible. Pharmacists will be required to take appropriate action accordingly.
6.3 The Care Trust may give immediate notice of termination if a pharmacy fails to carry out its obligations appropriately.
Signed on Behalf of Solihull Care Trust:
Name: Title:
Signature: Date:
Signed on behalf of the Pharmacy:
Pharmacist Name:
Signature: Date:
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