In response to the increased work pressures faced by community pharmacy teams in the initial surge of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to plan for a second wave, CPNI worked with colleagues in the HSCB to assess the number of patients receiving medicines in monitored dosage systems (MDS). Pharmacies were asked to review the need for adherence support for these patients and to consider the feasibility of reverting to original pack dispensing.
Further information relating to this work can be found under the heading “MDS” here and the survey results can be viewed here. Continued work on development of a bespoke (non-Covid related) adherence service for community pharmacy is progressing.