News

Members of the CMHP and UKPPG and being encouraged to vote in the RPSGB election and to vote for both David and Graeme

 

 

Robotics in mental health

A bit of publicity for the automated dispensing trials being carried out in mental health in UK - see: (http://www.microsoft.com/uk/nhs/content/articles/going-dotty-it-and-dispensing-robots-improve-patient-care.aspx)

---

Pharmaceutical Care Awards 2007

There was a mental health runner-up in the 2007 Pharmaceutical Care Awards in July 2008. The Norfolk and Waveney Mental health NHS Foundation Trust got recognition for their one-stop clozapine clinic. See the link: http://www.pjonline.com/news/blood_test_service_in_pharmacyrun_clozapine_clinic

(8.08)

---

Lynn Haygarth in New Zealand

Lynn spoke at the annual NZ Psychiatry conference in June/July 2008. For photos see http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/55649920

---

TransCom

The UKPPG and CMHP have been working hard to try to get a seat on the new Transitional Committee to look at the possible structures of the professional body for pharmacy. Much work has gone in by Stephen Guy, Dave Branford, Celia Feetam, Dawn Price, Ian Maidment and others. Our argument centered around mental health being a specific speciality that needed specialist representation. The seat was not accepted but we now plan to lobby those Transcom members and get involved with the workstreams.

Dear Stephen,
Thank you for your recent letter in relation to the UKPPG/CMHP and
membership of Transcom, and the accompanying closely set out case. I
am grateful for the time and trouble you have taken over this, and
apologise for the time it has taken me to reply.

When I was asked if I would chair Transcom, it was clear that its
structure would limit the number of places not nominated by the
Society to 7. At the same time, the timetable that has emerged has
revealed that the work will have to be completed at some speed. As you
will know, we concluded in our Inquiry Report that it was essential
that the transition process involved the widest possible participation
from the profession - it must feel that it owns the process as well as
the outcome.

Taking all these factors into account, I have decided that the most
effective structure to deliver a sound outcome is to ensure that
TransCom i) sets out clear objectives of the overall project, ii)
determines what work is needed to provide the detail of the structure,
governance and functions of the new Professional Body, iii) brings
together by co-option those groups and individuals with the knowledge,
skills and experience to complete specific pieces of work in support
of the latter and iv) determines the overall outcome based on these.
Such a process should allow key elements of the profession to make
input in the right places, and to be part of the whole picture.

On that basis, I have asked 7 people to join TransCom itself,
alongside the 7 nominated by the RPSGB (as set out in the release on
the website at www.transitionalcommittee.com); their organisations
have all indicated an interest in potentially becoming part of the new
Professional Body. Given that aspect, and the UKPPG/CMHP desire to
remain independent, it seemed more appropriate for your involvement to
be in the more detailed work. TransCom will meet monthly to oversee
the progress of the work, and determine other issues that require
consideration. There will be a Reference Group made up of
organisations with an interest in the new Professional Body which
would not join it for reasons of conflict of interest - CCA and PDA,
for example - which will also meet TransCom regularly. But the areas
in which most pharmacy bodies I hope will become involved will be in
the detailed working groups. TransCom meets on July 17th to set up the
preliminary parts of this, and I very much hope that UKPPG/CMHP will
play an active role in several areas of what follows. It seems clear,
for example, that there will be a working group dealing with advanced
and specialist practice (which will cover all the profession). There
will need to be work dealing with postgraduate education issues,
including CPD and accreditation matters. I will ensure that you are
contacted directly with the outcomes of that meeting as a first step.

This is very preliminary. What is vital is that TransCom and its
various structures operate in an open and inclusive fashion, and that
the issues under consideration are debated as widely as possible
within (and without - the public have an interest in the success of
this) the profession. I look forward to working closely with you and
your organisations as the summer and autumn progress.

Yours sincerely

Nigel Clarke

 

This was in reply to:

Nigel Clarke
The Clarke Inquiry  
53 Chandos Place  
Covent Garden  
London  
WC2N 4HS 

8th June 2008

Dear Nigel,

On behalf of the CMHP and UKPPG, I would like to congratulate you on your appointment as the Chair of Transcom.  The work of this committee will determine the future direction of professional representation for pharmacy and presents us with an opportunity to start afresh and create a professional body that will command the respect of all sections of the pharmacy community.

The UKPPG/CMHP has a large, diverse  and growing membership  (in excess of 700 members). It’s membership spans all sectors of pharmacy - secondary care , primary care, academia, the independent sector, prisons and industry. It has recently incorporated mental health pharmacy technicians as members.

The CMHP was commissioned by the UKPPG with the primary aims of accrediting
specialist mental health pharmacists and meeting the requirements of Clinical
Governance. The College is funded solely by the UKPPG and operates independently. The accreditation process developed by CMHP could form the basis of a model accreditation system for specialist pharmacists within the new professional body.

The UKPPG and CMHP have agreed to work together to manage the aspects of any involvement with the Transitional Committee and other committees such as the Waterloo Group through a system of work sharing. The lead is Stephen Guy as President of the CMHP with deputies of Ian Maidment, Dave Branford and Dawn Price. The joint organisations are well placed to play a leading role as a member of the Transom.  The enclosed Position Statement highlights the strengths and qualities UKPPG/CMHP could bring to the Transitional Committee

We are keen to meet with you at your convenience in order to discuss the best way that UKPPG/CMHP can contribute to the work of the Committee and ultimately a successful new Professional Body

Regards,
Stephen Guy
President College of Mental Health Pharmacists
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Knockbracken Healthcare Park
Saintfield Road
Belfast
BT8 8BH

For more about TransCom, visit their website http://www.transitionalcommittee.com/
8.7.08

---

Smoking cessation

CMHP's Helen Shaw from Oxford attended at meeting at DoH regarding smoking cessation (and lack of availability of NRTs on some wards), and made a good impression apparently, which may be leading on to further DoH contacts with the mental health gurus.

 

---

Your committee met on 13th June 2008 in Cumbria

Your committee met in Cumbria on Friday 13th June 2008, with support from Servier Laboratories. Present included Mick, Graham P, Bev, Ian, Marina, Dawn, Justine and Steve B.
Discussed items included:

• Waterloo group (see statement) and UKPPG/CMHP long-term strategy.
  • UKPPG/CMHP seem to be ahead of the game in our processes and set-up but we may/will need to realign our structure and strategy in view of the changes in the profession coming from Clarke Enquiry, Transcom and RPSGB reviews. The UKPPG/CMHP have strongly campaigned for a seat on Transcom to ensure the significant mental health issues are addressed.
  • The recent letter in the Pharmaceutical Journal (6th June) illustrated the nature of the tasks ahead, but collaboration with Catherine Duggan may prove effective
• Conference 2009 – negotiations are on-going with Hinckley Island which, although not quite as plush as Wokefield, is a possibility (10-12th Oct, approx, check)
  • 2008 programme is in the final confirmatory stages (click here)
• Ian gave a presentation on the research set-up in UK at the moment
  • A summary of Ian’s presentation has been added to the site, and we plan to update this as things change (summarised here), and as ever any additions or corrections are more than welcome
• Xara
  • Xara database and operation isn’t as good or as easy as we thought and technical support form Xara is virtually non-existent. It’s fine as a membership database but we still can’t get a membership-protected area. Other systems are being investigated.
• Finance:
  • 671 members at the moment, rising slowly 
  • Finance is stable
  • Student membership to be introduced/considered
  • Conference organising sub-committee is developing
• Education:
  • Psychiatry 1 programmed for late October 2008, details to be announced
  • Psychiatry 2 planned, but no date agreed yet
  • Aston University Certificate and Diploma course future was coinsidered, with contingencies needed as and when the current course leader (eventually) retires from the post. A long-term plan is needed and if Aston continue to be as ambivalent as have been, alternatives already identified will be pursued.
• PR
  • Dawn introduced a new Corporate membership scheme draft proposal, which will be sent to members before the AGM in October 2008 for consideration and voting.
• PALS
  • The 3 missing files have been prepared and circulated, and an extended list discussed. 
  • Some additional ones are in preparation and an updated CD will be produced soon. A new version containing some more peripheral and specialist drugs will be prepared.

15.6.08

---

Bath University launch Mental Health CPD

I am planning to run our usual MH Intro unit starting this September for 10 weeks. It is delivered by distance learning with support from a virtual learning environment and on-line tutor support. There is also a two day workshop where we try and deliver educational items that are difficult to deliver on-line.

Usually it is part of a Certificate or Masters in Clinical Pharmacy programme but is also offered as a stand alone CPD unit. When completed as a CPD unit it attracts ECT points which can be used towards other Higher Educational awards (certificates or Diplomas).

It will be suitable for those new to MH working in primary or secondary care (we have had at least half a dozen people through from primary care service
teams) or those who want to brush up or extend knowledge in other areas.

It is also what the Pharmacy technician MH training will be based on (but with different tasks and outcomes as discussed with Bev recently).

Anyway what I am really asking is whether I can advertise this via the UKPPG website? I attach the flyer If you want to know more please let me know Best wishes Denise

 

Denise Taylor MSc MRPharmS FHEA
Senior Teaching Fellow
Programme Lead for Pharmacist Prescribing Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Room 5W 3.27 University of Bath BATH BA2 7AY.
Direct line: 01225-383677

No smoking at Rampton

Bernard Huckstep reports that Rampton High Secure Hospital introduced a no-smoking policy (for patients and staff) on 1st April 2007. Some of you will be aware that a number of patients took their case to be allowed to continue smoking to the High Court around that time. The High Court have just ruled that psychiatric patients should not be allowed to smoke at a high security mental hospital (BBC report link is here).
This will likely have implications for other hospitals after the introduction of smoking restrictions in public places which will apply in England from the 1st July this year.
From a pharmacy point of view, our biggest challenge apart from the control and supply of NRT was the effect of smoking cessation on our clozapine patients. As expected, clozapine serum levels rose requiring substantial dose reduction – however the size of the increase in serum levels and the extent of the duration of the effect were greater than the available literature suggested at the time. These effects were so pronounced in some patients that we have decided to publish a paper describing our experiences which should help others manage similar situations. I will post a link to this as soon as it's in print.
As Rampton is a secure hospital and tobacco and ignition sources are controlled, 100% compliance with the smoking ban was ensured from 1st April 2007. There were fears that many of our patients might become acutely disturbed but, in the main, these fears proved groundless.
Good luck to others who might be embarking on similar smoking
cessation programmes.
Bernard Huckstep, Head of Pharmacy Services, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (20th May 2008)

---

New MHA Code of Practice - May 2008, shocking news

Thanks almost entirely to Dr Dave Branford's persistence, the MHA Code of practice for England now contains the following:

Statutory consultees

24.49 SOADs are required to consult two people (“statutory consultees”) before issuing certificates approving treatment. One of the statutory consultees must be a nurse; the other must not be either a nurse or a doctor. Both must have been professionally concerned with the patient’s medical treatment, and neither may be the clinician in charge of the proposed treatment or the responsible clinician (if the patient has one).
24.50 The Act does not specify who the statutory consultees should be, but they should be people whose knowledge of the patient and the patient’s treatment can help the SOAD decide whether the proposed treatment is appropriate. People who may be particularly well placed  to act as statutory consultees include the patient’s care co-ordinator (if they have one) and, where medication is concerned, a mental health pharmacist who has been involved in any recent review of the patient’s medication.
24.51 The statutory consultees whom the SOAD proposes to consult should consider whether they are sufficiently concerned professionally with the patient’s care to fulfil the function. If not, or if a consultee feels that someone else is better placed to fulfil the function, they should make this known to the clinician in charge of the treatment and to the SOAD in good time.
24.52 Statutory consultees may expect to have a private discussion with the SOAD and to be listened to with consideration. Among the issues that the consultees should consider commenting on are:
• the proposed treatment and the patient’s ability to consent to it;
• their understanding of the past and present views and wishes of the patient;
• other treatment options and the way in which the decision on the treatment proposal was arrived at;
• the patient’s progress and the views of the patient’s carers; and
• where relevant, the implications of imposing treatment on a patient who does not want it and the reasons why the patient is refusing treatment.
24.53 If the SOAD wishes to speak to the statutory consultees face to face, the hospital managers should ensure that the SOAD is able to do so.
24.54 Consultees should ensure that they make a record of their consultation with the SOAD, which is then placed in the patient’s notes.
24.55 SOADs should also be prepared, where appropriate, to consult a wider range of people who are concerned with the patient’s care than those required by the Act. That might include the patient’s GP and, unless the patient objects, the patient’s nearest relative, parents (where relevant), other family and carers, and any independent mental health advocate2 (or other advocate) representing the patient.

Dave is now retiring to bed to get over the shock of actually being listened to! It only took him 20 years!
(6.5.08)

---

Your committee met on 25th April 2008 in Belfast

Attendees included Jane Riley, Stephen Bleakley, Dave Branford, Trudi Hilton, Cathy Mortimer, Elaine Weston, Stephen Guy, Helen Shaw, Ian Maidment, Marina Davidson, Bev Faulkner, Mick Marven, Dawn Price, Steve Bazire, Graham Parton and Lynn Haygarth.

Discussion covered New Ways of Working (and co-ordination of UKPPG and CMHP)

Education and training - Psych 1 will be at Woodland Grange in autumn 2008; 70 took the Certificate exam, 40 in new cohort; Diploma has 30 and now costs £5200 (certificate and Diploma)

 

 

 

---

New Ways of Working (NWW) - Medicines Management Self Assessment Toolkit & Guidance; message from Dave Branford to all pharmacists but especially pharmacy managers

Over the last few years many of you have been involved with the New Ways of Working in Mental Health projects. These have included the following
- The Spread Programme of local projects
- The mental health surveys
- Various other initiatives
Most of the products of these initiatives are on the NWW website www.newwaysofworking.org.uk (go to the main site via this link, then click 'Pharmacy', then 'Medicines Management') . They include:

• Individual Spread programme reports
• The Spread Programme report –Learning lessons from the Spread Programme
• The Surveys of MHT secondary care pharmacy services in England
• The reports of the MHT secondary care pharmacy services in England
• New Ways of Working for Mental Health Pharmacy
• The MM service user/carer leaflet

In the last year (2007) the DH/NWW team sponsored 4 more projects

• Developing a model SLA
• Enhancing the role of the pharmacy technician in mental health pharmacy
• Medicines Management learning sets
• The medicines management self-assessment toolkit

In addition the NIMHE National acute care Board sponsored an evaluation of MM schemes for acute mental health wards. Over the coming months these will appear on the website and hopefully with links to the UKPPG website.
These products will be on show at the Medicines Management in Mental Health conference at Leeds on June 25th. Chief Pharmacists should be encouraging the Board member with responsibility for MM to attend (as well as attending themselves with their chief technician).
The particular product that has just been loaded on the NWW website is the medicines management self assessment toolkit. This easy to use excel spreadsheet programme enable MHTs to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses in relation to MM. We have used it locally to assist in the writing of our new MM strategy.
I would welcome.
Any Trusts that completes it sends me a copy of your completed MHT assessment – these will be kept in confidence but enable a battery of completed assessments so that some benchmarking can take place. Some feedback from those that have used it on how you used, how useful you found it and suggestions for modifications

Many thanks
Dave Branford  
Dr D Branford PhD MRPharmS
Chief Pharmacist
Kingsway Hospital
Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust
Derby DE22 3LZ 
Tel:  01332 623567
Mob:  07786 391472
Email:  david.branford@derbysmhservices.nhs.uk

(1.5.08)

---

The Clarke Enquiry

The Report of the Independent Inquiry into a Professional Body for Pharmacy was published on 2nd April 2008, and can be found on the website www.theclarkeinquiry.com.

(7.4.08)

---

UKPPG Vice Chairperson Dawn Price spoke at the European Association of health Care Pharmacists in Maastrict in february, at the first mental health symposium at an EAHP conference for ten years. She spoke about near-patient testing of clozapine, along with other well-known pharmacists Elisabeth Eide (Norway, diabetes and depression), Hans Mulder (Netherlands, genomics) and someone from Spain (psychoeducation). For a preview see Broekema and Hermens, EJHP Journal 2007;14:21.

13.3.08

---

Your committee met on 8th February 2008 at Gatwick, with thanks to Lundbeck for supporting the meeting. 
Present: Ian, Dawn, Graham P, Graham N, Stephen G, Steve B, Elaine, Marina, Mick eventually
Apologies from Bev, Pat, Trudi and Justine
Items discussed included:

CMHP: over the last two meetings, the following were discussed: 

• Dr. Dave Branford now has the academic background role on the Board
• Stephen Bleakley now registrar with re-accreditation to Lynn Haygarth as assistant registrar
• There have been lots of requests for portfolios so CMHP hoping for lots of applicants for vivas later in year
• A new version of the portfolio is being worked on which would allow different ways of proving the current competencies other than through the existing system. This would allow specialist mental health pharmacists in e.g. managerial levels to be included. The CMHP is planning to have a draft document by April and released in June, for the October vivas
  
• Clarke enquiry response has been put on their website. Most responses from other groups were critical of RPSGB but it is thought unlikely the RPSGB will adjust their views
  
• Competencies for special interest pharmacists, including possibility of community pharmacies running e.g. lithium clinics are being worked on 
• A viva has been videoed and is on Youtube (link to come)
• Conference – see conference page. The committee was exercised that there had been a late change in date but there was a problem with a venue that issued a contract proposal for a weekend that wasn’t available as it was already booked. The Conference date has been agreed as 10-12th October and the contract we area ssurred is "in the post" fully signed. The UKPPG is still £33K owing from pharmaceutical industry from 2007 conference. The 2009 conference dates should be 9-11th October.

• PALS – due to an as yet unidentified error, several PALS had been inadvertently omitted from the current PALS, which is being rectified imminently. Translations are being pursued but the cost for a professional translation service is prohibitive at the moment.
• Education:
  A Chief and significant others think tank is proposed
  Psych 1 date awaited
  Psych 2 TBA
  To be discussed at joint CMHP meeting in April
• Bulletin re-launch is still being costed

(10.2.08)

---

Working in Mental Health: Wendy Davies (Cardiff) had an article published in the Pharmaceutical Journal on 26/1/08 called "Working in mental health" about her career.
(6.2.08)

---

A New Year Message from Stephen Guy, President of the College of Mental Health Pharmacists:

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all CMHP and UKPPG
members a very happy and prosperous New Year.

At the beginning of the year many of us plan out what we want to
achieve in the next 12 months both in our private and professional
lives. With regard to your professional development I would
encourage you to apply for College Membership as soon as possible.
The changes in regulation of pharmacists and the creation of a new
professional body, possibly a Royal College, presents the College of
Mental Health Pharmacists with an opportunity to become directly
involved in the future development of the profession as a whole and
to become the voice for mental health pharmacy in particular. To
ensure we are representative of mental health pharmacists we need as
large a membership base as possible and that is where you come in!

If you already are a CMHP member please encourage your work
colleagues to apply and give them you support and encouragement.

Membership of the College is open to all pharmacists members of the
UKPPG who hold a Diploma in Psychiatric Therapeutics OR have at
least 5 years experience working as a Mental Health Pharmacist. In
addition you have to submit a portfolio of work for assessment and
attend for a viva. Please don't let either of the last two steps put
you off applying. The portfolio is not difficult to complete – the
majority of it can be completed by recording your daily activities.
There are a few additional sections but each of these does not exceed
an A4 page. The Viva can be daunting but again it is straightforward
and is in two parts

the first part is the Case Vignettes - these are everyday scenarios
that you might come across. There are some questions to answer and
you are given 15 minutes to prepare your answer to 3 case Vignettes.
The panel are not trying to catch you out – there are no trick
questions
The second part of the Viva is based on your portfolio. You might be
asked to expand on a section or explain what has happened to a
particular piece of work since you submitted your portfolio

You can view a sample portfolio on the UKPPG website. In order to
keep track of people who are interested in becoming members we ask
that you apply to the Registrar for a portfolio pack. I hope to have
a short video presentation of the Viva available on the UKPPG website
shortly.

There are two Viva sessions planned for the 17tth or 18th of July and
for the day before the UKPPG annual conference in early October. The
deadlines for portfolio submission are the 7th April 2008 and 30th
June 2008 respectively.

Make becoming a member of the College you New Year Resolution for 2008

Regards

Stephen Guy
President College of Mental Health Pharmacists
stephen.guy@belfasttrust.hscni.net