Community pharmacists in South Tyneside have begun vaccinating housebound patients against COVID-19 to support local vaccination efforts.

Whilst only small numbers of community pharmacy vaccination sites have been able to open so far, PSNC is hearing incredible stories of collaboration between pharmacists, GPs and others to support all the different types of vaccination sites that are being set up across the country.

As part of a local service which launched on 23rd January, a team of 22 community pharmacists in South Tyneside – including PSNC Regional Representative Mark Burdon – are administering COVID-19 vaccinations to around 1,500 housebound patents in their own homes. The pharmacists are giving up their weekends in January and February 2021 to provide the service to the community’s most vulnerable residents.

Recognising that many housebound patients are looked after by informal carers (i.e. a close relative) who may find it difficult to visit a vaccination site, the scheme also enabled vaccinations to be offered to them too.

Service set-up

Working with local healthcare commissioners, Gateshead and South Tyneside LPC established a service to operate in conjunction with the Primary Care Network (PCN) designated vaccination site. The idea grew from conversations about pharmacists wanting to help support the COVID-19 vaccination programme given their experience of providing NHS flu jabs.

The service is fully integrated with the PCN vaccination site, utilising key NHS IT systems. Housebound patients are identified using GP practice lists and extracted lists are contacted by workers supporting the PCN site. Vaccination information is updated in real time using PharmOutcomes in the patients’ own home using a mobile device which links into GP systems to populate the patient record.

Funding for the service comes via the PCN vaccination site, with pharmacists receiving an activity payment.

The scheme was also recently featured on BBC local news.

Mark Burdon, PSNC Regional Representative for the North East and Cumbria and an independent community pharmacy contractor, said:

“It’s great to have got this service up and running and to be able to help the national vaccination effort in a way that really supports our local GPs. While vaccinating housebound patients is a bit of a different challenge for many community pharmacy teams, it’s one that we are absolutely up for – the success we have had so far is yet more evidence that community pharmacies should not be overlooked as a key player COVID-19 vaccinations.”

Louise Lydon, Chief Officer of Gateshead and South Tyneside LPC and a practising pharmacist and contractor, said:

“It’s a real team effort – the idea came out of our regular discussions with GPs, the Clinical Commissioning Group and the Council. I’d like to thank all the pharmacists for everything they are doing, as they are so committed and keen to help.

It’s been intense at times with a lot to work through, but it feels like an honour to be involved in something so life-changing. We’re really excited to be carrying out this work.”

Dr Anji Curry, a GP in South Shields, said:

“This is a really unique approach – we’re not aware of any other areas delivering the vaccine this way. Here in South Tyneside, our community pharmacists are very closely integrated with local practices, so they are well placed to play such a key role and reduce some of the pressure on other parts of our health system.”