Evaluation of the Community Pharmacy Common Ailments Service

Descriptions

Evaluation of the Community Pharmacy Common Ailments Service IntroductionThe evaluation project is expected to commence in October 2013 and to complete by March 2016. The research project involves an evaluation of the pathfinder community pharmacy common ailments service. The pathfinders are being implemented from May 2013 in Cwm Taf and Betsi Cadwaladr Local Health Boards. The aim of the evaluation is to assess the effectiveness of the service in terms of the extent to which it has achieved the expected aims and objectives. The research is being undertaken to inform the implementation and future development of the service. The service is being implemented in three phases. Phase 1 involves establishing two pathfinder sites, one in Cwm Taf LHB and the other in Betsi Cadwaladr LHB (see Appendix 1). Each pathfinder site will initially have approximately 15 pharmacies participating in the service. The criteria for selecting the two sites included evidence of good working relationships between GPs and pharmacists. The sites will become operational in May 2013. Phase 2 will commence in April 2014, subject to satisfactory findings from Phase 1, and involve the service being delivered across the pathfinder LHBs (77 pharmacies Cwm Taf LHB; 53 pharmacies Betsi Cadwaladr LHB). Subject to satisfactory findings from the evaluation of phase 2, Phase 3 will commence in April 2015. Phase 3 will involve the service being delivered from approximately 710 pharmacies located across Wales. Research aims and objectives The aim of the evaluation is to assess the implementation and effectiveness of the service. That is, the extent to which the service has:•Improved access to advice on, and treatment for, common ailments from community pharmacies•Promoted appropriate use of GP and pharmacy resources •Maintained or improved quality of care and patient outcomes •Delivered a cost-effective model for the management of common ailments. In order to explore these issues it is critical that the evaluation has process, outcome and economic components. The evaluation should also include a logic model which details the processes involved in delivery and their expected outcomes. The Welsh Assembly Government, on behalf of the Welsh Ministers, will be conducting this If the process is being let using the e-procurement process the following wording should be added (If not this and all references to bravo solutions should be deleted): procurement exercise through the etenderwales portal https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk. Tender documents and other information must be downloaded from and returned through this portal. If you require any further assistance the BravoSolution helpdesk is available on:Email: help@bravosolution.co.uk Phone: 0800 3684850 / Fax: 020 7060 0480Full information in accessing the portal is found in Section VI.3.