Other practice aspects to consider include:^10,20,25

·      Early on in providing pharmacist IP services, it may help to arrange a meeting with local GPs to explain what’s new and how this differs to existing Pharmacy First services.

·      Promotional material for use in the pharmacy and GP surgeries and social media templates may be available at a local, regional or national level.

·      The pharmacy and/or IP pharmacist could ask the local commissioning board to help implement and promote the service.

·      In systems where pharmacist IPs provide NHS prescribing services, prescription pads should be stored securely, for example in the CD cabinet, and prescriptions should not be pre-signed before use.

·      Independent prescribing SOPs will be required; pharmacy accreditation for IP services may need to consider whether additional specifications about the consulting room are met.

·      If the prescriber is also going to be involved in dispensing or supplying the medicine, they should have a mental break to separate activities of prescribing, clinical check, accuracy check and dispensing.

·      A prescribing scheme may only cover acute conditions and not chronic conditions, so patients coming back regularly with the same condition may need referral.

·      Reporting a notifiable disease is a legal requirement for registered medical practitioners. In Wales, the PIPS guidance says pharmacists are expected to be aware of conditions considered to be notifiable diseases and how to report them.