Second part of PQS to continue with its previous objectives to fight Covid-19

The second part of the Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS) for 2020-21 will continue with the objectives of its previous part.

The first part of the scheme included activities that support the response to and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

It has been agreed for community pharmacies that the completion of the part first of the scheme will be a gateway requirement for part two.

Total funding for the scheme is a minimum of £56.25 million, with any unused funding from the first part of the scheme to be added to the total.

The second part of the scheme will formally commence on October 1 and the entire details of PQS and its second part have been included in the September drug tariff.

Community pharmacy contractors meeting the requirements – which are actions set out in a checklist relating to their response to Covid-19 – can claim a payment of £1,630 via the NHS BSA’s Manage Your Service (MYS) portal between July 14, 2020 and January 29, 2021.

There will be five domains each with its own component criteria to achieve; all criteria in a domain must be completed to be able to claim a payment for that domain.

Summary of the criteria includes infection prevention and control, antimicrobial stewardship, suicide awareness and action plan, sugar sweetened beverages, weight management, risk management, influenza vaccination service, and Primary Care Network (PCN) business continuity discussions.

All criteria in a domain must be completed to be able to claim a payment for that domain.

Meanwhile, contractors will be able to claim an aspiration payment if they wish via the MYS portal. Claims for this payment can be made from 0900hrs on September 14 until 2359 on October 9.

The declaration for the scheme must also be made via the MYS portal between 0900hrs on February 1 and 2359hrs on February 26, 2021.

Any residual funding not paid to contractors within part one of the scheme will be distributed as part of payments in the second part of the scheme. Payments will be made by the NHS BSA within a month after a claim has been submitted.

PQS has funding worth £75 million and the sum will be divided between qualified pharmacies based on the domains and corresponding points they have achieved.