Pharmacy contracutual frameworks
Public health services as part of pharmacy contractual frameworks
The UK home countries all commission national public health services through their respective community pharmacy contracts. There are differences in the balance between nationally and locally commissioned services.
The four countries
In England, there are two public health services as part of the Essential services tier of the contract: Healthy Living Pharmacies and Public Health (Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles). Pharmacies in England can opt in to provide four of the national Advanced services:
- NHS Seasonal Flu Vaccination Programme
- Smoking Cessation Service
- Blood Pressure Check Service
- Hepatitis C Testing Service
Wales includes public health campaigns as an essential service.
In Scotland, the Public Health Service (PHS) is a core community pharmacy service with four requirements:
- Ensuring that there is a health-promoting environment in the pharmacy including promoting national campaigns using a combination of window posters, promotional materials and staff training
- Offering a sexual health service (EHC)
- Offering a smoking cessation service
- Offering access to prophylactic paracetamol for childhood vaccinations where appropriate.
In Northern Ireland, a Living Well service provides key public health messages and advice, and nearly 300 pharmacies offer flu and Covid vaccinations.
Additional public health services are also commissioned locally throughout the UK. In England, for example, locally commissioned public health services include alcohol screening and brief interventions, EHC and blood-borne virus screening.
The PSNC local services database provides details of locally commissioned services in England.
Reflection exercise
What are the public health campaign topics that your pharmacy is required to participate in for the current year?
For one of these forthcoming campaigns, what three things will you and your team do to prepare?