Services Database Supervised Self Administration of Methadone and Buprenorphine (North, Central and East Lancashire Area)

This service will require the pharmacist to supervise the consumption of prescribed medicines at the point of dispensing in the pharmacy, ensuring that the dose has been consumed by the patient.

The pharmacy team will provide support and advice to the patient, including referral to primary care or specialist centres where appropriate.

Pharmacist Training & Qualifications
Pharmacists routinely involved in the provision of this service should have completed or have plans to complete within six months of joining the scheme:

• The distance learning package ‘Substance Use and Misuse” available from the Centre for Postgraduate Pharmaceutical Education. This is available online and takes approx 10 hours.
  Information is available from www.cppe.man.ac.uk; or
• The Royal College of General Practitioners Pt 1 Certificate level Training for the Management of Drug Misuse in the Primary Care Setting’. This course has been made available to Pharmacists and includes 2 online modules which take approx 2 hours each and one locally organised face-to-face training session equivalent to 6 hours Continuing Professional Development.
  Information is available from www.rcgp.org.ukThe Substance Misuse in General Practice website is also a useful source of information and guidance and contains discussion groups to support those working with substance users. This can be found at www.smmgp.co.uk
  The UK psychiatric pharmacists’ substance misuse e-mail group (www.ukppg.org.uk) is another forum for discussion.
  If a pharmacist signs up not having completed their qualification, successful completion will be expected within 6 months of their being accepted on to the programme. The PCT must be informed once the qualification has been awarded.

Local training will also be provided by the commissioner at the commencement of the scheme and updates if there are significant changes to clinical practice.
Pharmacy Technician Training & Qualifications
Pharmacy Technician’s involved in the provision of this service must be registered with the RPSGB, have an up to date CPD portfolio and have completed the CPPE distance learning package “Substance Use and Misuse: fundamentals and practicalities for the pharmacy technician.” This is package is available online and takes approx 6 hours. Information is available from www.cppe.man.ac.uk