Stop Smoking

The Community Pharmacy Stop Smoking Dispensing Service provides a dispensing service to smokers attempting to stop smoking. Contractors participating in this Service will encourage motivated smokers to set a quit date and provide weekly support for a minimum 4-weeks after the quit date. Treatment must be offered for a 12 week period and must include behavioural support and the provision of appropriate pharmacotherapy in line with the Service Specification. Staff providing the Stop Smoking Support must be trained to Level 2 Intermediate standard by the Northamptonshire Stop Smoking Service. Training will include the completion of online assessments provided by the National Centre for Smoking Cessation Training (NCSCT) with regular annual update sessions. The Responsible Pharmacist must be trained to Level 2 Intermediate standard and will hold overall responsibility for the service provided.

CONTRACT START: 1st April 2015

CONTRACT EXPIRY : 31st January 2016 extension available til 31/3/16

Objectives   

To provide a dispensing service to smokers attempting to stop smoking

Service Description

The dispensing of nicotine replacement products in line with the current Service Specification document when a completed Northamptonshire Stop Smoking Service NRT/Medication request form accompanies the request. There are a few updates to the service specification namely:

• The cap of four quit attempts per annum;
• The necessity to sign up to the relevant NHFT contract by August 1^st to secure ongoing reimbursement from NCC;
• Some additional guidance regarding linking in/onward referral of customers presenting with a prescription & not being supported to quit directly though the stop smoking service or associate provider network – namely to try and link them in with the support services;
• The reimbursement of drugs cost rather than NHS Tarif price;

Performance Measures, Quality Standards and monitoring            

• The contractor must complete the Northamptonshire Stop Smoking Service Dispensing Payment Claim Form fully and accurately and return it to the Northamptonshire Stop Smoking Service office
• Claims submitted later than 2 months, after the NRT supply date noted on the form, will not be processed for payment
• Inaccurate or incomplete forms received in the Stop Smoking Service Office  later than 2 months after the date NRT was supplied, as noted on the Dispensing Payment Claim Form, will not be paid
• Claim Forms received later than the final deadline communicated by the Stop Smoking Service, after the financial year end will not be processed for payment, even if received within the 2 month period
• Claims for reimbursement of Nicotine Replacement Therapy supplied must be made using the Webstar online service
• All payments will be made monthly in arrears
• Payment is dependent on the Stop Smoking Service receiving and validating monthly Dispensing Payment Claim Forms
• The named Stop Smoking Specialist will inform contractors if/when incomplete forms have been received (and/or out of date forms) whereby strictly NO payment will be made
• Arrangements can be made with the contractors Stop Smoking Specialist for checking or regular collection of forms to prevent delays
• Pharmacies will be required to provide an audit trail for a minimum of 2 patients per year to demonstrate implementation of quality standards
• The Stop Smoking Service, on a random basis, will select individual patients for audit.  A Stop Smoking Specialist will facilitate this, with recommendations on follow up actions or further audits agreed with the pharmacy

 DOCUMENTS

CONTACTS

Note that the service is shared between NHFT which offers the contracts for dispensing only and dispensing plus which includes level 2 support. Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) deals only with NRT prescribing. This explains the reason why  no fees appear on the NCC contract, only reimbursement.