UKMi Strategy 2007: Enhancing Medicines Management Services in the NHS

1. UKMi Strategy 2007 • Replaces 2000 Strategy • Launched 31/10/2007 • Takes account of political, policy, organisational and operational NHS changes • Takes account of national devolution variations to maintain UK-wide relevance • Defines 5 key strategic aims • Addresses key issues to maintain the crucial value of MI services

2. Key UKMi Elements • UKMi is an NHS service provided through an integrated network of local and regional medicines information centres. • It is a critical NHS resource for medicines management at patient and organisational levels.

3. NHS Change Drivers • Increased access to health services and health information by patients. • Development of intermediate care with transfer of complex cases into the community. • Development of specialist networks. • New non-traditional prescribers. • New commissioning arrangements. • Regulatory changes created to ensure life-long competency of practitioners. • Plurality of healthcare providers from independent and charitable sectors (in England).

4. The 5 Strategic Aims • Reflect a patient-focused NHS • Develop the service to healthcare providers • Develop healthcare staff • Support to NHS commissioning and planning bodies • Collaborate effectively with other organisations at national level

5. Strategic Aim 1Reflect a patient-focused NHS • Local patient helplines • Patient information – written and electronic • Patient-focussed organisations (NHS Direct/NHS24)

6. Strategic Aim 2Develop the service to healthcare providers • Patient safety - NHSInjectable Medicines Guide • Healthcare professional development – Community pharmacists, Independent prescribers • Equitable NHS access • NeLM - delivery of integrated medicines information • IT utilisation • Decision support input e-prescribing • MI as evidence-based focus for medicines management

7. Strategic Aim 3Develop healthcare staff Develop competent workforce by: • Local education & training initiatives for a range of healthcare professionalsto find and evaluate information • Develop broad workforce strategy • MI technicians • Consultant MI Pharmacists

8. Strategic Aim 4Support NHS commissioning &planning bodies • Evidence-based outputs to facilitate medicines management and formularies • Medicines management leads in PCOs • Strategic planning and policy making – horizon scanning/policy scoping • Service QA to ensure standards and value for money • Audit for other information-providing healthcare organisations, e.g. NHS Direct • Support local implementation of national guidance

9. Strategic Aim 5Collaborate effectively with other organisations at national level • Horizon scanning (NHSC, SMC) • National guidance (NICE, SIGN) • NeLM • NHS Direct/NHS24 • NPSA • NKS (e-prescribing) • Pharmacy professional body(ies) • Research organisations

10. ..all supporting NHS agenda • Patient safety • Patient access to good quality care • Cost-effective prescribing • A competent work force • Value for money

11. The challenge • Big agenda • Covers all aspects of MI – local to national • Requires engagement with users, stakeholders and commissioners • Collaborative working • IT & communications • Funding and investment • Information governance