HLP LEVEL 1 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Community pharmacies in England are now able to register as a Level 1 Healthy Living Pharmacy (HLP) under the new self-assessment process. Achieving HLP Level 1 status is one of the quality criteria under the new quality payments scheme for community pharmacies in England. This criterion is worth 20 quality points, which amounts to a minimum payment of £1,280. For further information please contact the NPA Pharmacy Services team on 01727 891800 or email pharmacyservices@npa.co.uk. ENGLAND

COMMUNITY PHARMACY GLOBAL SUM CONSULTATION

The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) are consulting on proposals for the Community Pharmacy pay offer (Global Sum) in Northern Ireland for the 2017-18 financial year. Contractors are asked to submit their views on the proposals and on the equality screening that the Board has undertaken in response
to the proposed arrangements. The NPA will respond to the consultation and if members have any feedback they wish to include please contact a.mcalister@npa.co.uk before 17 February 2017. NORTHERN IRELAND

PHARMACY TO SUPPORT FALLS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

A national campaign focused on Falls Awareness was launched this month. The first week of the campaign coincided with National Falls Awareness week in Wales. Pharmacy will play an essential part in a wider campaign aimed at raising awareness of the risks associated with falling and to remind people of simple measures they can take to lower their risk of falling. It will form part of the wider Steady On Stay Safe campaign. WALES

OVER 1,600 MURS PROVIDED IN WELSH

Following the addition of the information fields on NECAF, it has been confirmed that 2% of patients requested to receive their Medicines Use Review in Welsh; 96% of requests were met. WALES

QUALITY PAYMENTS: ASTHMA REVIEW RESOURCES LAUNCHED
The NPA has developed resources to help contractors meet the asthma review criterion of the Quality Payments Scheme. For further information on this or any other query, please contact the NPA Pharmacy Services team on 01727 891 800 or email pharmacyservices@npa.co.uk. ENGLAND

QUALITY PAYMENT SCHEME – A REMINDER

Check that level 2 safeguarding status has been achieved for new members of staff. Aim to achieve as many quality points as possible for the April review point. Visit npa.co.uk/services/the-pharmacy- imposition for more information. ENGLAND

ACCESS TO THE SUMMARY CARE RECORD (SCR)

Pharmacies need to demonstrate they have set themselves up to access SCR to achieve one of the eight Quality Payment Scheme criteria. For help and relevant resources, visit npa.co.uk/information-and-guidance/ summary-care-record. The last day in March is the deadline for submission of the Community Pharmacy Usage Agreement to the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). ENGLAND

HEALTH+PHARMACY

NICPLD has announced further training courses for pharmacists and Health and Wellbeing Advisors seeking to participate in the Health+Pharmacy initiative. Training will be held on Wednesday 15 and Wednesday 29 March in Riddel Hall Belfast. Please contact NICPLD for additional information and to enrol. Twenty-one pharmacies have now attained Health+Pharmacy accreditation. Remember that the NPA has produced a toolkit to provide support to members seeking accreditation. NORTHERN IRELAND