Care home team perceptions
confusion
CH managers and staff identified benefits in having a dedicated pharmacist attached to the home. Most CH teams explained they had gained improved accessibility and advice by having PIPs as a point of contact in the primary care team, ‘Where multidisciplinary working was embedded, CH teams explained the clinical skills of each professional were respected, and teamwork supported effective resident care:The [CH] nurses’ assessments are being taken as a valuable tool, because the nurses are observing, the nurses are giving the assessment, and the nurses are liaising with the PIP, to prescribe what they think is needed, so I think it’s a win, win situation, the nurses are feeling valued, and the PIP as well CH manager_21b.However, in two homes, PIPs were not able to become integrated into the CH. In one, the PIP reported that CH staff were unclear of their role. In another, there was confusion about the legal position of PIPs to prescribe and the manager insisted the GP signed off all the PIP’s prescribing activity. This highlights the importance of understanding and trust across the triad.