The drugs don't work
Well you remember that we have a supervised methadone area. Other pharmacies in the area that do supervise consumption have now taken their full quota of clients and so the local drug action team (DAT) are delighted that we have suitable facilities and are keen to start providing this service. But there’s a hitch; the DAT and the PCT doesn’t have any standard paperwork to provide to us (e.g. SLA, clinical guidelines, patient agreements, SOPs, etc) and can’t agree with the LPC on a fee for the service. So we’ve been put in a difficult situation between wanting to meet patient need, but not wanting to set a precedent by going ahead and proving this, after all enhanced pharmacy service, without any formal agreements or payment structure being in place (we’re not sure how the other local pharmacies already providing the service are working this one). So for the time being its all ground to a halt until we have this structure in place, and it’s so frustrating. Will keep you posted.
posted by Dee Spencer at 9:51 am
2 Comments:
This was the one of the two biggest disappointments having agreed the new contract (DDA funding being the other). If only we could agree national SLAs and funding (as in Scotland and Wales?)then this situation would never have arisen. You've done exactly the right thing in standing your ground - I wonder if the LPC should be talking to those other pharmacies providing a supervised methadone service? Regrettably it seems that it is necessary for a service to be in danger of imminent collapse before funding is found. The DATs are usually not short of cash and should be providing realistic funding and support.
Many thanks for your comments Richard. I believe that the LPC has suggested using the Welsh template paperwork as a good place to start. However it's going to be difficult for them to move forward in terms of agreeing funding until the new PCT has had a chance to settle down.
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