Excellence in Healthcare Collaboration and Partnerships

Summary of work

Specialist Rheumatology Pharmacists (SRPs) can offer vital support to improve patient care. Historically, there has been a lack of inclusion of Specialist Pharmacists within the rheumatology multidisciplinary team, mainly due to a lack of understanding and clarity of their role and value. To address this, an expert working group (WG) worked closely with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and the British Society of Rheumatology (BSR) to develop and disseminate an Expert Practice Guide to define and standardise the role.

This Expert Practice Guide is endorsed by the RPS and BSR (critical partners to gain credibility, exposure and impact), is published on the BSR website and has enabled these professional bodies to provide support to SRPs. Launched at an RPS-accredited meeting in 2015 to 32 SRPs (target was 25), it has already had an impact on patient services. The document has influenced the recruitment of an SRP in Chester, whose support has enabled nursing staff to see an additional 8-10 patients in clinic per week. Additionally, it has enabled a WG member to gain RPS Faculty Membership and has provided a framework for the personal development of two SRPs in Bolton.

Judges' comments

This was practical, showed tangible outcomes and had good collaboration with different groups to produce a project that garnered good stakeholder feedback and which felt like it produced a valued partnership.