Immediate Access to Emergency Medicines
In August 2023, the Immediate Access to Emergency Medicines service was recommissioned by HWE ICB. This service aims to ensure that appropriate palliative care /emergency drugs are stocked in selected community pharmacies before the need arises, resulting in:
- Improvement of access to specialist medicines when required by ensuring prompt availability and continuity of supply
- Reduction of hospital admissions
- Reduction of distress and anxiety experienced by patient and carer/family
- Supporting other professionals to improve patient care
The specification was consulted with the CPH committee who are supportive of the service developed.
All pharmacies were given a number of weeks to express an interest in providing the service during August/early September 2023. The number of pharmacies are limited to a certain number and have been selected on the basis of the length of their opening hours.
Immediate Access to Emergency Medicines – selected pharmacies
Immediate Access Emergency drugs SLA
Payments will be made quarterly (£100) per annum (£400 in total) on behalf of the ICB upon the completion of the Immediate Access to Emergency Drugs Quarterly Audit, which is generated by PharmOutcomes® on the 5th day of the month following the previous quarter.
The payment will be usually made within one month of receipt of the invoice. Invoices will automatically be generated by PharmOutcomes® when the Quarterly Audit is completed on PharmOutcomes®. Entries made on PharmOutcomes® more than 90 days after the event will not be paid.
Claims deadlines for the next financial year are as follows:
- 1 January – 31 March 2024 – Claims to be submitted by 5 April 2024 (grace period until 30 June 2024)
- 1 April – 30 June 2024 – Claims to be submitted by 5 July 2024 (grace period until 30 September 2024)
- 1 July – 30 September 2024 Claims to be submitted by 5 October 2024 (grace period until 31 December 2024)
- 1 October – 31 December 2024 Claims to be submitted by 5 January 2025 (grace period until 31 March 2025)
- 1 January – 31 March 2025 – Claims to be submitted by 5 April 2025 (grace period until 30 June 2025)
For information purposes a copy of the PharmOutcomes® template is available in Appendix 2 of your HWE ICB Immediate Access to Emergency Drugs Contract.
The web-based system PharmOutcomes® will be used to process payments. It is essential that all pharmacy contractors record details of all medicines stocked on a quarterly basis to receive prompt payment.