A2: Health services

Question 1

Community pharmacy contract

Answer 1

Since 2005 ‘contractors’ have provided services in
areas:
• Essential services e.g. dispensing prescriptions,
advice about OTC medicines, signposting
• Advanced services e.g. medicines use reviews, new
medicine service, flu vaccination
• Locally commissioned services e.g. smoking
cessation, minor ailments, emergency contraception

Question 2

Primary care services other than Community pharmacy

Answer 2

• CCGs provide prescribing advice to GP practices and
other prescribers (e.g. dentists) through a medicines management team
• Most GP practices employ pharmacists to help
them with their prescribing and they hold clinics for
patients on multiple medicines
• Services to nursing and residential homes

Question 3

Secondary care

Answer 3

Hospitals (Trusts)
• funded mainly by CCGs commissioning services
• some national funding for specialist services
People attend secondary care for a variety of reasons
• Elective treatment (ie. planned)
• Non-elective treatment
• Acute and chronic conditions
• Day cases
• Outpatients
Pharmacy services are a clinical service provided within the hospital

Question 4

Hospital pharmacy services

Answer 4

All aspects of medicines use in hospital
• Procurement (buying medicines)
• Manufacturing (including sterile)
• Dispensing / supply of medicines
• Clinical ward services
• Medicines information
• Advice about administration
• Specialist pharmacists
• Clinical trials

Question 5

NHS is not entirely free. What do patients need to pay for

Answer 5

• Prescription charges - currently £8.60 per item
• Dental check - £20.60
• Opticians - £21.31 check; full cost of spectacles / lenses

Question 6

Who are exempt/ discounted from paying any charges

Answer 6

• Aged under 16 or over 60
• Low income (including most students!)
• Pregnancy and first year after birth of a child
• Certain conditions: diabetes, thyroid
problems, etc.