A NEW initiative which will enhance communication with community pharmacies across Wirral and Chester has been nominate for five top industry awards.

Led by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), the project, which has adopted a new system to inform local community pharmacies if extra care or counselling is required for prescribed medicines, has been shortlisted for five separate categories at the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Patient Safety Awards.

The scheme has been shortlisted in the following categories: Best emerging solution for patient safety; Best partnership solution improving patient safety; Improving safety in medicines management initiative; Mental Health Initiative of the Year and Quality Improvement of the Year.

Jasmeen Islam, deputy chief pharmacist at CWP, said: “Through collaboration with community pharmacy teams we have been able to enhance patient care through better information sharing and integrated working, in line with the NHS 10 Year Plan.

“We are delighted to be finalists in these categories, and I’d like to thank the community pharmacies for their valuable input and continued support.”

Recognising the possible risks to some patients when they didn’t take their medication as prescribed, the team applied the new communication system providing community pharmacies with critical information about what patients have been prescribed.

The system has helped extend the support that community pharmacists can provide - giving them the best chance to provide safe and effective care.

Chief executive at CWP Sheena Cumiskey said: “This is a fantastic example of local experts working together to mitigate risk and better meet the needs of our population.

"The fact it has been recognised in so many categories highlights just how effective it has been across our communities. Congratulations to all involved.”

The HSJ Patient Safety Awards take place on 2 July at a ceremony in Manchester.