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Illustrating the role of the Diabetes Specialist Pharmacist in an acute hospital

European Statement

Clinical Pharmacy Services

Author(s)

Laura O’Donnell, Barry Keenan, Laura Loughran, Edel Davidson, Rosemary Donnelly, Sarah McGinnity

Why was it done?

In 2020, it was identified that diabetes specialist pharmacists working within diabetes inpatient teams were able to provide safe, effective and patient-centred care. However, it was equally identified that there was a lack of awareness of these new roles and their potential impact on care improvement. This is a major barrier to ensuring that specialist pharmacists become an integral part of diabetes inpatient teams.

What was done?

Diabetes specialist pharmacists from across Northern Ireland collaborated to define their role, and communicated their scope of practice in improving patient care as an infographic.

How was it done?

Acute hospital trusts in Northern Ireland were allocated temporary funding to demonstrate the benefits of a diabetes specialist pharmacist. There were localised differences in services provided according to the experience, and competence of the individual pharmacist, however as a team, pharmacists across Northern Ireland collaborated to help establish, develop and define the role. Work was mapped to the four guiding principles for medicines optimisation from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Good Practice Guidance (2013). The comprehensive worklist was then transformed into an infographic to give a quick, visual and easy to understand illustration of the role.

What has been achieved?

The infographic is a unique tool to share the vision of what can be achieved by diabetes specialist inpatient pharmacists, and promotes clinical pharmacy services. The work was used to develop a business case for permanent funding, and is being used to inform a wider diabetes workforce planning strategy within Northern Ireland.

What next?

It is hoped that sharing this work will help inform and inspire teams who would like to incorporate a diabetes specialist pharmacist into their diabetes inpatient team, and provide a roadmap for those who are developing and establishing the role in their own hospital.
Next steps involve expanding the remit to include the other roles in which a diabetes specialist pharmacist can enhance care, for example outpatient clinics, and links with primary and intermediate care, to fully illustrate the role.

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