Pharmacists with Special Interests (PhwSIs)

Introduction

A national framework for implementing Pharmacists with Special Interests (PhwSIs) has now been published by the Department of Health and NHS Primary Care Commissioning.

This guidance framework is part of the ongoing implementation of A Vision for Pharmacy in the new NHS, and sits alongside the wider development of the pharmacy workforce including national occupational standards for pharmacy roles, better use of skill mix, and the establishment of consultant pharmacist posts.

It includes a definition, guidance on how PhwSI services can be put in place, a competency framework for PhwSIs and examples of current service models similar to PhwSI. The framework will allow accredited PhwSIs to work alongside other primary care professionals to deliver care in new ways using redesigned care pathways, to support the policy direction described in the White Paper Our health, our care, our say.

Access the National Framework for Pharmacists with Special Interests

Please also refer to the webpage dedicated to Practitioners with Special Interests on this site.

(6/5/08) First PhwSIs Accredited

Two Bradford pharmacists have become the first in the country to become accredited with special interests.

Linda Hirst and Marta Hildebrandt are now qualified as pharmacists with special interests and provide anticoagulation monitoring services at a weekly clinic at Wilsden surgery, with support from Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust (tPCT), Bradford Hospitals Trust and GP Further details are on the Bradford and Airedale PCT website

(20/12) Learning from workshops for potential early adopters

Two events took place in October 2007. Presentations and products from the workshop are available below.

Presentation 1: Commissioning using 18 Week pathways (Dr Stephen Laitner) 

Presentation 2: Update on implementing PhwSI (Beth Taylor)

Learning from early adopter events

Presentations from BPC 2007

Commissioning PhwSI services: Dr Steve Henderson

Community Pharmacist Specialising in Substance Misuse: Tim Cottingham

Providing a primary care dermatology service: Dr Rod Tucker

The Accreditation of Pharmacists with Special Interests

New publications on the accreditation of Pharmacists and GPs with Special Interests are now available

Download the PhwSI briefing 3 April 2007

Click here to access resources to support PhwSI accreditation

Contacts and further information:

PCC pharmacy helpdesk pharmaqanda@pcc.nhs.uk

Other practitioners (PwSI) - you can learn more about how they have taken this new role forward in this archived site.

Archived Materials

Two National Launch Events were held in November 2006

These two half day events provided an introductory briefing on the new national framework for PhwSIs. View presentations from the introductory briefing on the new national framework for PhwSIs, November 7th, Manchester

View presentations from November 23rd, London

Summary of contributions from participants at both events