Top 10 Tips for Pharmacists Working in General Practices/PCNs

1. Understand the new GP contract, how general practices work and also their financial streams such as QOF, DES etc. The Oxford Handbook of General Practice is a good recommended read. 

https://oxfordmedicine.com/view/10.1093/med/9780198808183.001.0001/med-9780198808183  

2. Read the Network Contract Directed Enhance Service (DES) at https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/network-contract-des-specification-pcn-requirements-entitlements-2020-21.pdf  

3. Read the most recent CQC inspection reports for all the general practices you are going to be working in at https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/gps .

Also check the practices’ previous QOF scores on the NHS Digital website at https://qof.digital.nhs.uk/search/

4. Ensure you have a full induction with your general practice team with all staff members and understand their roles as well as any HR issues, infection control policies at the onset of employment.

5. Be sure to have your own separate personal indemnity insurance for any general-practice based work you undertake in addition to the Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practices (CNSGP) more commonly known as the state=backed scheme. Remember the CNSGP scheme is operated by NHS Resolution and designed to protect the general public and not you as the healthcare professional.

6. Ensure you have a GP mentor and/or senior pharmacist that you can rely on to support your clinical needs, supervision and training requirements. 

7. As you are building up your clinical skills, make a record of evidence of competence to demonstrate your scope of practice. You could do this in order of BNF chapters. This would also be handy to your indemnity insurance provider.

8. No two general practices are the same so make sure you understand what each practice requires from you and always be proactive to find solutions within your competence. Always be open and honest with the practices’ expectations from the outset.

9. Make sure you utilise all of the multidisciplinary staff at your disposal in general practices even the non-clinical admin staff, especially when you are setting up a clinic or conducting searches for audits.

10. Make networking connections with your local medicine management teams such as your CCG or STP and also with the local secondary care team should you need to refer your patients to them or have a clinical query.