Extra Smartcard Rights (SCR) for pharmacy professionals have been extended until March 31, 2022, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) said in an update.
In the wake of the Covid-19, NHS Digital had added the multi-site ‘FFFFF’ Smartcard code and SCR rights onto Smartcards with the pharmacist or pharmacy technician role. The initiative was supported by PSNC and NHS England and NHS Improvement.
SCR access was granted to all those with the pharmacist 5F multi-site code on their Smartcard, by the addition of new roles:
- National Locum Pharmacist + SCR – Covid-19; and
- National Locum Technician + SCR – Covid-19.
These temporary Smartcard positions were created to provide greater flexibility for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians during the pandemic. This would help pharmacy staff if they unexpectedly find themselves working at a pharmacy where they haven’t previously worked.
Alterations to SCR and Smartcard are scheduled to be time limited, therefore PSNC has requested pharmacy teams to email it@psnc.org.uk with examples of why the changes would be beneficial following the end of the pandemic.
It has also asked pharmacy teams to share experiences and case studies about how wider SCR access supports their ability to care for patients.
Sukhi Basra