Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

CPCS referral from urgent and emergency care settings to launch next week

The Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) will be expanded to enable urgent and emergency care settings to refer patients to a community pharmacist for a consultation for minor illness or urgent medicine supply from Monday (15 May), the DHSC and NHSE said.

The service builds on the progress made in GP referrals via the CPCS and hospital referrals under the Discharge Medicine Service. It was originally planned to launch in March, and fee for this service will be the existing CPCS fee of £14, as per the agreement for both year 4 and year 5 of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) 2019 to 2024 5-year deal.


In an update on the CPCF, published today (12 May), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England (NHSE) has also committed to the 4 October 2023 launch date for the Tier 2 of the Pharmacy Contraception Service, subject to a positive evaluation of the pilot.

The Tier 1 of the service was launched on 24 April, delayed by over three months. This new service enables community pharmacists to provide ongoing management, via a patient group direction (PGD), of routine oral contraception that was initiated in general practice or by a sexual health clinic. The fees for this service are as follows: a fee for each consultation of £18; and a set-up fee of £900, paid in instalments.

The Tier 2 will “enable community pharmacists to also initiate oral contraception, via a PGD, and provide ongoing clinical checks and annual reviews,” Alette Addison, deputy director for pharmacy, dental and optical at the DHSC and Ali Sparke, director for dentistry, community pharmacy and optometry at the NHSE, said in a letter.

The letter also informed that the pilot to expand the New Medicines Service (NMS) to include antidepressants is underway, adding that further update on the expansion of the existing service will be provided in due course.

The service was expected to launch last month.

The reduced Year 5 CPCF Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS) scheme will launch on 1 June, Addison and Sparke confirmed. “The reduced scheme is valued at £45 million to retain key priorities from the NHS Long Term Plan while reducing the burden on pharmacy contractors,” they said.

It will consist of one gateway criterion (15 NMSs between 1 April 2023 and the end of 31 December 2023) and four quality criteria:

  • reducing harm from anticoagulants – re-audit and implementation of learnings and recommendations from 2021 to 2022 audit
  • palliative and end-of-life care – as per year 4 requirements
  • respiratory – as per year 4 requirements
  • antimicrobial stewardship – as per year 3 and year 4 requirements plus advice on safe disposal of unused or expired antibiotics

The update noted that the monthly payment of a flat fee started in April to all pharmacy contractors who dispense at least 101 items a month up to a national total of £70 million on an annual basis.

“This amount is subject to change if clinical service volumes grow beyond our forecasts and all unallocated funding is spent on new services. The monthly payment is currently £533,” the letter read.

Following the review of the concessionary price process, from April  products granted a concessionary price are classified as ‘discount not deducted’ (DND) for the month(s) they are on concession, the update said.

“Furthermore, for products requested after the 23rd of the month, the concessionary price granted can be rolled over to the following month. We are continuing to work with PSNC on how a ‘retrospective increased payment’ may apply, when appropriate,” Addison and Sparke said in the letter.

On reimbursement reforms, they said the transition to the new discount deduction arrangements is ‘progressing but we will continue to monitor the implementation’.

“While the intent is to rely on the margin survey to adjust for any increased or decreased delivery of margin, we may need to consider other adjustments, for example applying a tolerance level where adjustments to discount rates need to be applied, to reduce the impact on margin delivery,” they added.

More For You

New professional liability insurance policy for RPS members launched

The insurance will be provided to members at cost, with no profit made by RPS.

gettyimages

RPS launches professional liability insurance for members

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has launched a new professional liability insurance policy, designed to empower pharmacists to work confidently and deliver high-quality care, knowing they are protected.

Exclusively available to its members, the comprehensive and affordable insurance has been developed in collaboration with global professional services firm Aon.

Keep ReadingShow less
Scottish community pharmacist working in high street pharmacy with supportive environment

The PDA wants investment to reach those who deliver services to patients every day

Pic credit: iStock

Funding boost in Scotland “needs to work for not just pharmacy owners but pharmacists too”, says PDA

An increase in funding for community pharmacies in Scotland needs to lead to a greater focus on supporting pharmacists rather than “simply sustain business models”, according to the Pharmacy Defence Association (PDA).

Earlier this week, Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) accepted the Scottish government’s initial financial offer for the 2025/26 fiscal year, securing a guaranteed minimum reimbursement of £120 million for community pharmacies — up from £110 million from 2024/25.

Keep ReadingShow less
GP surgery upgrades for annual appointments

The surgeries will have additional space to “see more patients, boost productivity and improve patient care”

Pic credit: iStock

GP surgery upgrades to create 8.3 million more annual appointments

Over 1,000 GP surgeries will have their premises modernised to meet the needs of a further 8.3 million appointments each year, the government has announced.

Backed by a cash injection of over £102 million, the surgeries will have additional space to “see more patients, boost productivity and improve patient care”.

Keep ReadingShow less
It is official: Opella is now a standalone company

Opella launches as an independent company to redefine the future of self-care.

Photo credit: gettyimages

Opella becomes standalone company as Sanofi-CD&R deal closes

Opella has officially become a standalone company, following the completion of Sanofi’s sale of a controlling 50.0% stake to private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R).

Sanofi retains a significant shareholding with a 48.2% stake while Bpifrance holds the remaining 1.8% stake.

Keep ReadingShow less
Wales boosts funding for pharmacy-led UTI and sore throat test services

The sore throat test (STTT) and treat service will be widely available

Pic credit: istock

Welsh pharmacies receive funding boost for clinical services

Two key clinical services will be available in 99 per cent of community pharmacies across Wales after a boost in funding.

The sore throat test (STTT) and treat service and the urinary tract infection (UTI) service have both benefitted from contractual negotiations between the Welsh Government and Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW).

Keep ReadingShow less