Services Database Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) (Country Durham Area)

The nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) voucher scheme in County Durham allows the patient the choice at dispensing of the correct nicotine replacement product for their health needs.

The NRT voucher scheme is a pre-numbered voucher. Information recorded on the voucher by the stop smoking adviser includes patients name, address, date of birth, postcode, etc.

Vouchers are distributed via trained stop smoking advisers commissioned by Durham County Council, Public Health. Pharmacies will act as an NRT voucher dispensing point only under this Service.

A community pharmacy based dispensing voucher scheme for nicotine replacement products will provide increased access to stop smoking support across County Durham. Its aim will be to provide the population with access to nicotine replacement products on a weekly basis providing additional support and advice for patients.

The member of the provider’s staff on week 1 should ensure that the NRT product(s) are suitable for the patient based on their smoking status and lifestyle.  They should also cover side effects and how often the product(s) should be used/applied and any other stop smoking support.

On subsequent weeks of dispensing the member of the provider’s staff should ensure that the product(s) are still suitable and that the patient has suffered no adverse effects.

The local authority does not require staff to undergo training to meet this specification.