Clinical governance changes

In   March 2011 service developments within the pharmacy contract were announced which include changes to the clinical governance requirements

There are three key changes to the existing clinical governance requirements and four new requirements

Changes to existing requirements:

• Pharmacies  must  make it clear on any promotional material, leaflet or notice that any essential and advanced services advertised are funded by the NHS.
• In addition to reflecting on the results of their annual patient satisfaction survey, which is the current requirement, pharmacies must now publish and act upon the results.
• Pharmacies must continue to report all patient safety incidents to the National Patient Safety Agency ( NPSA)  but are now expected to keep separate logs for patient safety incidents and near misses.

 New requirements:

• Pharmacies must have a whistle blowing policy in place.
• Pharmacies must keep written records of patient safety alerts received from the the MHRA, the NPSA or successor body, and the Department of Health, and record the action taken so that they can demonstrate that they have acted on the alert within the time frame specified.
• Pharmacy premises should provide a professional healthcare environment.  Areas of the pharmacy which provide NHS services (the professional areas) should be clearly separated from those that do not (the non-professional areas).
• Pharmacies should assess and take steps to minimising the risk, to patients, staff and visitors, of infection acquired from healthcare settings. Cleanliness and infection control measures should be proportionate to the activities being undertaken in the pharmacy

The Regulations were updated in October 2011 to reflect these changes to clinical governance, but it has been recognised that it will take time for contractors to implement the changes and a six month "transition" period has been allowed, which comes to an end on 31st  March 2012

PSNC and NHS Employers will be publishing comprehensive guidance about the changes for contractors and commissioners, including examples of best practice and signposting to other relevant resources.

As interim support, PSNC and NHS Employers have published a document summarising the clinical governance changes.

Clinical governance requirements for community pharmacy