Pharmacy and Medicine Optimisation Network
Clinical Lead: Mr. Puneet Sharma (SWBH), Project Manager: Amrick Singh (BCPC)
The Pharmacy network was established in October 2022. The network is led by the Chief Pharmacist from Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust and meetings are carried out monthly to track the progress of the improvement projects and address other required areas for development. Engagement has been good from the majority of the four Trusts and the leads from each of the Trusts have good existing relationships with each other and the network lead.
The network meetings have facilitated open discussion and the sharing of practices and lessons learnt across the ICS. An away day is to take place later this year for the Pharmacy network, to build on the working relationships of staff across the Black Country and increase the awareness of network priorities. In March 2023 Puneet Sharma presented to the Clinical Summit highlighting key priorities of the improvement programmes to improve cancer drug producing services, identify cost saving opportunities and filling the workforce shortfall.
Pharmacy provides the medicine support to all clinical networks and is a vital component in ensuring patients are discharged on time. The projects are working to improve quality and services for patients in a number of ways and also improve collaborative working and produce cost savings.
The network had a clear plan to address and improve specific required areas for development.
- Asceptics Programme
- Introduction of Lower Cost Biosimilar Medicines
- A Pharmacy Workforce Review Project
Looking ahead
The focus of this financial year ahead is to continue the implementation and development of the improvement projects to complete projects and integrate them as business as usual within Trusts. The network will look to complete the feasibility study and establish two licenced cancer drug-producing aseptic units within the Black Country. The pilot to introduce lower cost biosimilar medicines into Ophthalmology departments will pave the way for the introduction of other lower cost medicines within the specialty. Job descriptions will be standardised across the ICS to counteract staff movement and joint-Trust recruitment will be carried out to fill the large number of vacancies within pharmacy departments.
More Information
You can read more about the Pharmacy and Medicine Optimisation Network in the BCPC Annual Report 2022-23.