The cross-sector Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group has developed new medicines safety audit guidance to help pharmacy contractors complete the audits that make up part of the patient safety component of the Pharmacy Quality Scheme 2019/2020.

Pharmacy contractors are required to complete three audits prior to making their declaration under the 'Medicines safety audits complementing GP QOF QI module' domain of the PQS. The audits are:

• Completion of a lithium, methotrexate, amiodarone OR phenobarbital audit – contractors are only required to complete one of these audits.
• Completion of a valproate audit
• Completion of a NSAIDs audit, incorporating the findings and recommendations from the previous clinical audit on NSAIDs undertaken as part of the QPS for the February 2019 review point.

PSNC is recommending that contractors start the audits as early as possible to minimise the risk of missing the deadline for making their PQS declarations.Contractors must have started their lithium, valproate and other patient safety audits by November 29 at the latest to meet the requirement to complete the audit over a consecutive three-month period.

All the audits must be completed to enable the pharmacy to claim for this domain. If completed successfully this domain is worth 25 points, equating to a minimum payment of £1,600.

The declaration window for PQS opens on February 3 2020 and closes on February 28.