MPHM15: Public Health and Pharmacy in the UK

MPHM15: Public Health and Pharmacy in the UK

• The course covers public health aspects through pharmacy
• Examines the UK's public health issues, including determinants of health, tobacco, cardiovascular health, screening, harm reduction, communicable diseases, antimicrobial stewardship, sexual health, health protection, and public health consultation skills
• Public health is defined as the science and art of promoting and protecting health and well-being, preventing ill-health, and prolonging life through organised efforts of society.
• This is a two-semester course
• The course's key themes include:
  • Introduction to UK Public Health & Pharmacy
  • Determinants of health
  • Tobacco
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Screening
  • Harm reduction
  • Communicable diseases
  • Antimicrobial stewardship
  • Sexual Health
  • Health protection
  • Public health consultation skills

Public Health Issues in the UK

• The UK faces a range of public health issues, including poor lifestyle choices leading to long-term health conditions.

Tools to Encourage Healthy Behaviours

• The UK has various tools and resources to help encourage healthy behaviours.

Funding Arrangements for Public Health

• Funding for public health in the UK originates from patients and the public (general taxation), Parliament, and the Department of Health
• There are several routes to funding, including public health departments based in local authorities, integrated care systems (ICS), GPs and primary care contractors, community health services, and secondary care.

Community Health Services

• Public health services are delivered through a mix of organisations, including:
  • Local Authorities,
  • Charities
  • General practitioners' practices
  • Community Pharmacies
  • Sexual Health Clinics
  • Secondary care trusts
  • Social Enterprises
  • Private healthcare providers

Public Health Domains

• Health Protection
• Health Improvement
• Health Service Delivery and Quality

Community Pharmacy Contract

• The Community Pharmacy Contract categorises services into Essential, Advanced, and Enhanced services, each with a specific commissioning source (NHS or Non-NHS).
• Services are locally commissioned by the NHS and/or non-NHS bodies such as local authorities.

Public Health in Pharmacy Contract (Essential Services)

• Opportunistic advice on healthy lifestyles for patients with prescriptions (e.g., diabetics, smokers, heart disease)
• NHS England-led health campaigns
• National campaigns on topics like Stoptober or Be Clear on Cancer
• Leaflets and prompts to encourage staff to give health advice

Public Health in Pharmacy Contract (Essential Services) - Disposal of Unwanted Medicines/Pharmacovigilance

• Disposal of unwanted medicines is an important public health aspect of pharmacy.
• Pharmacovigilance is the process to monitor and prevent adverse medication effects.
• Clinical governance ensures high standards in the provision of services, including patient and public involvement, clinical audits, risk management, clinical effectiveness, information governance, education, and training, and staff management

Public Health in Pharmacy Contract (Advanced Services)

• Commissioned by NHS England
• Includes services like influenza vaccination and hypertension case-finding

Public Health in Pharmacy Contract (Enhanced Services)

• Commissioned by Local Authorities
• Includes services like sexual health, harm reduction, cardiovascular screening, smoking cessation, and weight management.

Public Health in Pharmacy Contract (Enhanced Services) - COVID-19 Vaccination

• National Covid-19 vaccination service
• Commissioned nationally in December 2021
• Involved over 1,500 community pharmacies

Healthy Living Pharmacies

• Initiated in Portsmouth in 2010 and has expanded
• Aimed to improve public health by highlighting activities within community pharmacies
• Utilises services and staff for a healthy living approach
• Was acknowledged in governmental reports
• Mixed research results, with a trend towards increasing public health interventions within pharmacies

Summary of Public Health in the UK

• The UK faces extensive public health challenges.
• Public health in the UK is a collaborative effort of multiple agencies and professions.
• Public health is increasingly important within community pharmacy, which offers further opportunities for public health intervention.

Further Reading

• Further information on the community pharmacy contract is available on the Community Pharmacy England website (link provided).