THE English Pharmacy Board has been a hive of activity in the past few months. We had a busy board day last month with the launch of the Commission on Future Models of Care. This is an important initiative and is timely with the establishment of NHS England. My role as the project lead is to ensure that the board makes a substantial and influential submission to this commission. We need the full support of our members because this is an opportunity for us to show fully what role we have in patient care [see p503]. We had a frank and constructive discussion with Steve Field, deputy national medical director of the NHS Commissioning Board, and Keith Ridge, England's chief pharmaceutical officer, on how the board can work towards pharmacist representation in NHS England. Professor Field explained that the five areas that the commissioning board will be focusing on are: preventing deaths; long-term conditions; hospital care and re-enablement; patient safety; and patient experience. He emphasised that pharmacy needs to engage in all five areas and be seen as a driver for change and better access to care for vulnerable people. He recognised that pharmacy fits well into this plan and advised pharmacists to get involved in commissioning and health and well-being boards. It was reassuring that the models of care commission will address this work. We have been working on introducing and explaining medicines optimisation by collaborating closely with all professionals, and organisations, and more closely with patients, the public and the pharmaceutical industry. There will be professional guidance that will incorporate the principles and, most importantly, what medicines optimisation means for pharmacists and how they can lead the agenda locally.
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