Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group and PSNC launch resources to support improved patient safety

The cross-sector Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group has worked with PSNC to develop two new resources that give contractors supplementary advice and guidance to complete some of the patient safety components of the 2019/2020 Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS).

The resources published today (30 October) provide worked examples of how to complete the Risk Review and the Patient Safety Report templates, which are in Annexes 2,3,4 and 5 of the NHS England & NHS Improvement PQS guidance.

Commenting on the resources, Janice Perkins, Chair of the Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group, said: “Community pharmacy teams are currently adjusting to a significant change in how they work. Patient safety is a key part of the PQS and these resources will support pharmacy teams to complete the necessary reports and meet the criteria whilst helping streamline their workload.”

Jasmine Shah, Head of Advice and Support Services at the National Pharmacy Association, said: “The Patient Safety Group produces very practical support for pharmacies. These latest resources will help NPA members and others to conduct risk reviews and report patient safety incidents effectively. As the recently appointed Medication Safety Officer for independent community pharmacies in England, I look forward to playing a full role in the work of the group in the future.”

The resources can be found here.