PQS Part 2, Domain 1

Contractor Support from the LPC    

The LPC have developed the training summary below to support you to complete some of the requirements of Part 2 of the Pharmacy Quality Scheme.

• PQS Part 2 Training Summary (Word)
• PQS Part 2 Training Summary (PDF)

This PQS is heavily focused on training for the whole pharmacy team, with further work to be completed once the training is complete.

The LPC recommends you and your pharmacy team start to work on the training elements now to leave sufficient time to complete the additional work for each domain.

PQS Part 2 Domain 1 

Domain 1 – Infection Prevention & Control and AMS

• ACTION:  Print this bulletin & the checklist above
• ACTION:  Get organised and make a start (the whole team need to engage)
• Plan: The on- line training can be completed within an hour

Infection Prevention and Control criterion 

Contractors must meet both quality criteria listed below in the Infection Prevention and Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship Domain to be able to claim payment for this domain.

The aim of this criterion is to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 within community pharmacies and potential harm caused by the pandemic by increasing awareness and implementing actions following training to improve infection prevention and control practices.

The requirements of this criterion are, on the day of the declaration:

1. All non-registered pharmacy staff working at the pharmacy must have satisfactorily completed the HEE infection prevention and control Level 1 e-learning and assessment; AND
2. All registered pharmacy professionals must have satisfactorily completed the HEE Infection Prevention and Control Level 2 e-learning and assessment; AND
3. Following the completion of the training, all of the pharmacy team working at the pharmacy must have completed a team review documenting the reflections and actions following the training, and amending standard operating procedures (SOPs) and associated guidance, where appropriate.

When making the declaration on the MYS portal, contractors will be required to submit:

• the total number of non-registered staff who have satisfactorily completed the Level 1 e-learning and assessment;
• the total number of registered staff who have satisfactorily completed the Level 2 e-learning and assessment; and
• a declaration that they have completed the team review.

Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) criterion

The aim of this criterion is to reduce the potential harm caused by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through the promotion of antimicrobial stewardship activity in community pharmacy.

The requirements of this criterion are, on the day of the declaration:

1. All patient-facing pharmacy staff that provide advice on medicines or healthcare must have satisfactorily completed the PHE Antimicrobial Stewardship for Community Pharmacy e-learning and e-assessment; AND
2. Contractors must have available, at premises level, an antimicrobial stewardship action plan for the pharmacy, which details how they will promote AMS. The action plan must include details of how all pharmacy staff involved in the provision of self-care advice will incorporate the principles of AMS into self-care advice, including reinforcing the messages around appropriate use of antibiotics, and the uptake of vaccinations, including the flu vaccine. There must be documented evidence, at the pharmacy, that the actions within the plan have been implemented by the day of the declaration; AND
3. All patient facing staff that provide health advice, should have become Antibiotic Guardians, if they have not already done so, and have an awareness of the local antibiotic formulary.

When making the declaration on the MYS portal, contractors will be required to submit:

• the total number of staff who have satisfactorily completed the training and assessment;
• a declaration they have completed an antimicrobial stewardship action plan for the pharmacy; and
• a declaration that all patient facing staff that provide health advice, have become antibiotic guardians and have an awareness of the local antibiotic formulary.

The Pan Mersey antibiotic formulary can be found HERE

This is the first of a series of bulletins to support contractors through the process and 5 domains, next week Domain 2 Prevention.