NHS England funds new PCN pharmacy engagement role

Funding has been announced for a new community pharmacy PCN engagement lead role to support the implementation of the access recovery plan.

The role will be the point of contact between community pharmacies and general practices within PCNs. It will be expected to support the implementation of the Pharmacy First service, expanded blood pressure checks service and the pharmacy contraception service (see box).

NHS England has said it will fund the post from 1 April 2024 until 31 March 2025, with £1,040 available per PCN. Integrated care boards (ICBs) will ‘manage the delivery on a local level’, it added.

Guidance from NHS England said the number of roles per ICB area would be based on the needs of the locality, but this could be one per PCN, or one for several PCNs.

It suggested the role might operate by working four hourly sessions ‘every few weeks’ to support the implementation of the access recovery plan, and then ‘ongoing engagement as required’, which it expected to be a minimum of eight hours total per quarter.

The role holder will also be expected to attend PCN boards and other meetings ‘as appropriate’.

NHS England guidance said: ‘It is expected that the ICB pharmacy commissioning teams and community pharmacy clinical leads (CPCLs) will coordinate with their local pharmaceutical committees (LPCs) to identify the community PCN engagement lead roles. This could be 1 per PCN or 1 role for a number of PCNs. This will be determined locally, based on the needs of the locality.

‘The ICB will regularly report to NHS England through its regional senior pharmacy integration lead. This will provide assurance that the PCN engagement leads are in place and fulfilling their duties according to the framework.’

It added that the role would help to build local relationships and ‘ensure high quality and appropriate referrals’ from general practice to community pharmacy.