English community pharmacies may not be required to open on the spring bank holiday as NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) is hoping to revert to the standard norm of locally determined opening arrangements.
However, for that to happen, there needs to be a sufficient number of community pharmacies which have already decided to open on the bank holiday, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee said on Monday, May 11.
"NHSE&I would need sufficient data about those community pharmacies that are already planning to open to be able to determine whether there will be sufficient provision on that day," PSNC added.
Therefore, pharmacy contractors have been asked "to tell their local NHSE&I team if their premises will be open on the 25th May bank holiday."
Health secretary Wes StreetingPic credit: Gettyimages
Atul Patel
Pritee Panchmatia