Project Name: LS25/26 PCN Lipid management

Project Summary: 

LS25/26 PCN has identified a significant unmet need in ASCVD management, with 1,661 patients requiring review under current lipid management guidance. This Collaborative Working Project will focus on a priority cohort of 539 patients comprising Cohort 1 (184 patients who are not receiving, or are sub-optimally managed on, statin therapy) and Cohort 4a (355 patients identified through HIM searches as requiring further lipid optimisation assessment). The selected cohorts have been prioritised by the CW Partner based on identified unmet clinical need, suitability for proactive review and deliverability within available project resource. Selection was not based on eligibility for any individual medicine or therapy.

The project will implement a pharmacist-led model comprising a CW Partner Project Lead Pharmacist (Band 8a), Clinical Delivery Pharmacist (Band 8a) and Clinical Support Healthcare Assistant (Band 3). The CW Partner Project Lead Pharmacist will provide project leadership, governance, protocol development, search validation, education and outcomes reporting. The Clinical Delivery Pharmacist and Healthcare Assistant, supported through the Novartis contribution, will provide the additional protected clinical capacity required to deliver virtual and face-to-face review clinics, medicines optimisation, follow-up and patient education. All clinical decisions will remain the sole responsibility of appropriately qualified healthcare professionals employed by the CW Partner. 

A key objective of the project is to improve achievement of recommended cholesterol targets through timely identification, review and optimisation of lipid-lowering therapy in line with NICE guidance.

The project aims to establish a sustainable ASCVD management pathway through:

  • Structured patient identification and risk stratification.
  • Development of local protocols and patient identification searches.
  • Delivery of pharmacist-led clinical review and lipid optimisation clinics.
  • Education and workforce development activities for primary care healthcare professionals.
  • Collection and evaluation of project outcome measures to support sustainability and future service development.

The project seeks to improve patient outcomes, support achievement of recommended cholesterol targets, enhance patient experience, strengthen workforce capability and support consistent delivery of evidence-based ASCVD management across the PCN.

Expected Benefits: 

ANTICIPATED BENEFITS FOR PATIENTS:

  • Improved access to proactive ASCVD review, medicines optimisation and lifestyle interventions through pharmacist-led clinics.
  • Earlier identification and management of eligible patients in line with NICE-recommended lipid management pathways.
  • Improved understanding of cardiovascular risk and available treatment options through patient education and follow-up support.
  • Enhanced patient experience through a structured and consistent approach to ASCVD management

ANTICIPATED BENEFITS FOR LS25/LS26

  • Improved identification, review and optimisation of ASCVD patients through implementation of a pharmacist-led lipid management service.
  • Increased workforce capability and confidence through education, upskilling and development of local clinical protocols.
  • Improved consistency of ASCVD management through standardised patient identification, review and treatment processes.
  • A sustainable lipid management pathway that can continue beyond project completion through workforce development, pathway implementation and reusable project resources.

ANTICIPATED BENEFITS FOR NOVARTIS 

  • Insight into the implementation of evidence-based lipid management pathways in line with NICE and local guidance, including practical learning on patient identification, review and optimisation within primary care.
  • Improved understanding of how pharmacist-led lipid optimisation models can support ASCVD pathway implementation, workforce upskilling and sustainable service improvement in routine clinical practice.
  • Insight into barriers and enablers associated with delivery of ASCVD lipid management services, including patient identification searches, virtual review, treatment clinics, education and outcomes measurement.
  • Enhanced understanding of how Collaborative Working can support healthcare organisations to address unmet patient need and improve implementation of evidence-based care pathways.
  • Ethical, professional and transparent collaboration with healthcare organisations to support service improvement, better patient care and publication of project outcomes in line with Collaborative Working requirements.
  • Potential for increased appropriate prescribing of Novartis lipid-lowering medicines where patients are independently assessed as clinically eligible and treatment decisions are made in accordance with NICE guidance and local pathways

Start Date & Expected Duration: September 2026 for 12 months

FA-11774652 | August 2026