The changes in three key elements in the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework are set to begin next month, as per the provisional dates, which will be confirmed by NHS England later.
NHS England is working with the NHSBSA and clinical IT system suppliers to update their systems in alignment with the agreed CPCF changes, and it is in an advanced stage.
The provisional date for commencement of use of the new clinical pathways and patient group directions (PGDs) is October 1.
The revisions were done after a clinical review of the clinical pathways conducted by NHS England, with input from clinical experts and frontline community pharmacists.
The updated document will be published on the NHS England website on October 1.
From October 29, the Pharmacy Contraception Service will expand to include the provision of oral emergency contraception (EC).
As per the updated service specification published in June, levonorgestrel and ulipristal will be available in pharmacies.
On October 29, the New Medicine Service (NMS) will expand to include depression as an eligible therapeutic area, and it will appear in the updated service specification and NMS Eligible Drug List.
Pharmacy owners who opt to use an IT system to maintain appropriate clinical records for the NMS should look out for communications from their IT supplier or discuss these changes with their supplier and confirm that their IT system will be updated by October 29.
