2021-08-24 11:54:11
The PSNC, DHSC and NHS England & Improvement (NHSE&I) have announced agreement for year 3 of the 5-year Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework in England. The agreement includes an announcement of regulatory changes to be made to the NHS terms of service in the NHS (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013 and changes to the Human Medicines Regulations. The changes will relate to:
- the clinical governance provisions. Pharmacies will be required to comply with recommendations from government or NHSE&I aimed at protecting staff and patients during a pandemic.
- the market entry provisions to enable NHSE&I to reject Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment-based applications if they provide only a minor increase in opening hours in the area and otherwise additional pharmaceutical services capacity is not needed in an area.
In addition, the PSNC, DHSC and NHSE&I have agreed:
- to continue further conversations regarding the regulation of dispensing and supply of medicines taking into account novel ways of undertaking these activities, while, at the same time, ensuring the integrity of the market entry system, based on Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments.
- to continue discussions on a suitable process to deal with suspected prescription direction issues.
- to seek as soon as possible changes to medicines legislation to enable original pack dispensing and the wider use of hub and spoke dispensing to improve efficiencies and better use of the skill mix in pharmacy teams so that the clinical skills of pharmacists can be directed to helping patients.