Discharge Medicines Service (DMS)
The Discharge Medicines Service (DMS) became a new Essential service within the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) on 15th February 2021.
This service, which all pharmacy owners have to provide, was originally trailed in the 5-year CPCF agreement, with a formal announcement regarding the service made by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in February 2020.
From 15th February 2021, NHS Trusts were able to refer patients who would benefit from extra guidance around prescribed medicines for provision of the DMS at their community pharmacy. The service has been identified by NHS England’s Medicines Safety Improvement Programme to be a significant contributor to the safety of patients at transitions of care, by reducing readmissions to hospital.
Full information can be found on Community Pharmacy England website.
FAO Northants pharmacies:
Please could you complete the attached document DMS Contractor XP Survey V1 and email back by 15 September 2024 to margieo’connell@nhs.net.
Aim of Survey: to get a picture from Contractors as to the volume of DMS they see and what experiences they have in undertaking the service.
Intention of outcomes : to feed into discussions within Northants Hospitals and ICB as to how to improve the quality of information on discharge and improve interface ways of working in Primary Care.
Completion deadline : September 15th – email back to margieo’connell@nhs.net.
