Minor Ailments Service Specification
Period: 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2016
1
Introduction
1.1
The aim of this service is to provide a minor ailments service to
patients registered with a Doncaster practice or those patients who
routinely reside in Doncaster. This will include where necessary, the
supply of medicines for the treatment of the minor ailment, for those
people who would have otherwise gone to their GP for a prescription.
1.2
It is designed to provide greater access and choice for patients,
particularly in rural areas and outside of “normal” hours.
1.3
No part of this specification by commission, omission or implication
redefines essential or advanced services.
2
Background
2.1
The White Paper Pharmacy in England, Building on strengths –
delivering the future (April 2008), suggests a minor ailment scheme
applied more widely could yield several benefits. People will not need
to spend time booking and then waiting for an appointment at their
local GP surgery. Some 57 million GP consultations per year are
estimated to involve minor ailments and take up to the equivalent of
one hour of a GP’s per day. Therefore, such a service, while not
releasing cash to use elsewhere, could help reduce pressures on
surgeries and free up time for GPs and their staff to treat people with
more complex needs.
2.2
Doncaster has been running a minor ailment service in certain areas of
Doncaster for several years. NHS Doncaster wishes to extend this
service to cover the whole of Doncaster.
3
Service Outline
Specification
3.1
Contractors providing this service will be required to;
3.1.1
3.1.2
Participate in any NHS Doncaster initiatives to promote the
service, specifically by displaying a sign to say an accredited
pharmacist is on site.
Signpost to other providers if no approved pharmacist is on site
3.1.3
Share details of unavailability with other pharmacy contractors,
to allow pharmacies to work together to provide a continuous
service.
Agree with NHS Doncaster a list of days and times they
routinely expect to provide this service on. Contractors must
update the Minor Ailments public website should they not be
able to provide the service on their agreed days and times.
Establish links with local practices and inform them when the
service will be provided
Inform local practices when the service is not available
Provide the service to appropriate patients who either “walk in”
or are signposted from another organisation
Ensure that all personnel engaged in the delivery of this service
are aware of the requirements and content of this agreement
Deliver the service in a consultation room approved for Medicine
Use Reviews (MUR’s). This consultation room shall be such
that patient confidentiality is maintained at all times.
The provider will work to an indication and set drugs list
approved by NHS Doncaster.
For each consultation the provider will
 Obtain and review the patients practice details
where ever possible.
 Obtain and record verbal patient consent to
acknowledge all records will be shared with the
patients GP
 Ensure that for each consultation an approved
template is completed if the patient is exempt from
prescription charges.
For those patients who genuinely do not have a GP but do
routinely reside in Doncaster the provider is not required to
produce a paper record.
A separate consultation shall be carried out for each individual
patient.
3.1.4
3.1.5
3.1.6
3.1.7
3.1.8
3.1.9
3.1.10
3.1.11
3.1.12
3.1.13
4
Accreditation
4.1
The service shall be provided by an appropriately trained Practising
and Accredited Pharmacist, registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society of Great Britain.
4.2
The service shall be provided from premises and room approved by
NHS Doncaster.
4.3
Prior to provision of the service, all Pharmacists providing the service
are required to;


Have attended the NHS Doncaster Minor Ailments training
session every 3 years
Have attended any agreed update training


Must have completed the CPPE Minor Ailments course.
Have undertaken an NHS Doncaster approved CRB check
5
Quality
5.1
In order to minimise any risks to patients and staff and to learn from
mistakes, near miss and local incident reporting systems must be
utilised.
5.2
In the event of any adverse incident or near miss the practice or
pharmacist will complete the SEA Reporting Form and send a copy to
the Corporate Services Officer, Organisational Development &
Corporate Affairs Directorate, NHS Doncaster.
5.3
Any complaints about any aspect of the scheme should be also
documented as detailed in the NHS Doncaster complaints procedure.
5.4
Quality indicators
 For set periods each year every patient having a consultation
will be given a questionnaire to be returned to NHS Doncaster.
6
Performance Management
6.1
Evaluation of the service will be done on an annual basis.
6.2
Evaluation of contractors supply of medication will be carried out on a
monthly basis.
7
Termination
8.1
All local enhanced services are subject to annual review by NHS
Doncaster and may be terminated by either party on 3 months written
notice. This agreement will terminate on 31st March 2016.
Appendices
NHS Doncaster complaints procedure
V18 14 September 2009
On behalf of NHS
Doncaster
On behalf of Contractor
Signature
Name
Position
Date
Address of premises at which service to be provided
INSERT PRACTICE STAMP
Minor Ailments Enhanced Agreement