P02 Novel pharmacy roles strengthen the multidisciplinary hospital infection team
Authors: Bond Stuart E , Lee-Milner Jade , Walker Nicola , Spencer-Jones Joseph , Sadiq Annam , Sarma Jayanta , Guleri Achyut , Jagadeesan Murugesh , Cruise Christine 
Published: January 2023

Background

Pharmacists have an essential role to play in the NHS Long Term Plan. Hospital pharmacy departments need to develop novel roles to strengthen teams and improve patient care. In September 2017, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust appointed a consultant antimicrobial pharmacist along with an administrative apprentice to strengthen pharmacy and infection leadership and support the delivery of the antimicrobial resistance national targets. From January 2018 to June 2020, the infection team worked with locums but no substantive consultant microbiologists.

Objectives

To describe the benefits of developing novel pharmacy roles to strengthen an infection multidisciplinary team

Methods

A shortage of consultant microbiologists provided opportunities to develop and enhance other infection roles. These included one year of funding from Pathology for a Band 6 Specialist Pharmacy Technician. The role was subsequently funded by the Adult Community Services team to support the home intravenous antibiotic service. Senior support was provided by the Pathology Group Manager, Head of Infection Prevention and Control and Director of Pharmacy. The apprenticeship levy supported a Level 4 Data analyst qualification to develop the pharmacy administrator role. Two other infection roles were developed: Advanced Clinical Practitioner and Trainee Clinical Scientist, both of which could not be sustained for lack of adequate consultant microbiologist resources for clinical supervision within the team.

Results

The Specialist Pharmacy Technician coordinates the home intravenous antibiotic service. Clinical responsibility remains with the discharging consultant medical officer. The antimicrobial pharmacy team led the introduction of antibiotic elastomeric pumps for home use, saving 2500 inpatient bed days. Patient and staff feedback on the novel pharmacy roles has been positive. Band 5 Pharmacy Data Analyst – Antimicrobials responsibilities include clinical trial participation, data collection and analysis including ward level working, reporting and coordination of the audit programme. The role has enabled contribution to national research studies, including Antibiotic Review Kit (ARK-Hospital) and Procalcitonin: Evaluation of Antibiotic Use in COVID-19 Hospitalised Patients (PEACH). Through a new strategy, consultant microbiologist workforce has progressively grown back to three full time equivalents and a 4th post advertised, enabling an increase in participation in ward rounds, multidisciplinary team meetings, antimicrobial stewardship, infection prevention & control, Director of Infection Prevention and Control role and leading NIHR research trials. The consultant pharmacist remains in post as a senior leader, and also has a Trust role as Director of Innovation. This change provided funding for an increase from Band 3 to Band 5 data analyst, promotion of a senior Band 7 pharmacist to a Band 8a advanced clinical pharmacist, and conversion of a part time Band 7 pharmacist to a full-time role.

Discussion

An innovative approach to development of pharmacy, data, nurse and scientist roles has strengthened the infection service in a regional hospital and community services Trust. Pharmacy-led team meetings are now routine in the Trust allowing for more efficient use of consultant microbiologist time.

Conclusions

Potential future roles are further administrative support, pharmacy assistant, clinical nurse specialist – antimicrobials, and antimicrobial pharmacy team leader.