In 2009, Macmillan Cancer Support funded a project within NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (GG&C), which piloted the establishment of four Macmillan Pharmacist Facilitators, the first of their kind in Britain.
With the aim of improving pharmaceutical palliative care services from the community, the facilitators spearheaded a quality improvement programme which engaged community pharmacies and the wider multi-disciplinary primary care team (MDT).
Four GG&C Community Health & Care Partnerships (CH(C)Ps) participated in the project and key outcomes included:
The University of Strathclyde evaluated the project and conceptualized an evidence-based service delivery and capacity planning model. The model is aligned with Scotland’s palliative care national action plan Living and Dying Well and has, in part, been embedded within GG&C’s community pharmacy palliative care network service level agreement.
Following its success, Macmillan and GG&C have agreed to jointly fund the transition of the Macmillan Pharmacy Service from project phase to board-wide roll out. An exciting new development sees the establishment of five pharmacy technician facilitator posts. It is anticipated that the skill mix of pharmacists and technicians will maximize the capacity of the service to improve pharmaceutical palliative care to those with life-limiting conditions
Key Service Objectives:
Facilitators are locally based within CH(C)Ps therefore are in a unique position within the primary care team to inform and support the delivery of palliative care services. This “on the ground” approach is designed to facilitate the sharing of good practice between community pharmacies and the wider MDT and aid the identification and resolution of problems.
For more information about the service or to talk to a local facilitator please contact:
Service Lead: Kate McCusker
Administrator: Charanpreet Sran
Telephone: 01505 706542 (Mon-Friday, 8am-4pm)