In the autumn of last year, NHS England started a clinical review of the Pharmacy First clinical pathways and patient group directions (PGD), informed by feedback received from pharmacy teams and other stakeholders, including Community Pharmacy England. Three community pharmacists nominated by Community Pharmacy England participated in the working group which advised NHS England on
Read moreIn the recent CPCF funding settlement, it was agreed that changes would be made to the Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS) to include drospirenone within the list of contraceptives which can be supplied and to add oral emergency contraception (EC) to the service. These changes to the service necessitate updates to the service specification, the existing
Read moreAs part of our Funding & Reimbursement Shorts series, Community Pharmacy England’s in-house Drug Tariff and funding experts have created a new video introducing the Pricing Audit Team (PAT). The Pricing Audit Team undertake monthly audit checks to verify the accuracy of NHS pricing across prescriptions and the Margin Survey. For prescription pricing, pharmacy accounts are audited
Read moreFollowing representations from Community Pharmacy England, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has re-determined that the following products will be granted special container status from 1 July 2025. Generic drug name (dm+d descriptor) Brand and/or Manufacturer Pack size Special container Betaxolol 0.25% eye drops 0.25ml unit dose preservative free Betoptic® 0.25% eye drops
Read moreWith the conclusion of the NHS 10-Year Health Plan imminent, this is a critical time for community pharmacy and it is important that we focus on the future, including looking at negotiating priorities to further leverage community pharmacy’s position. Pharmacy owners across the West Midlands and North West are invited to ‘Future of Pharmacy’ workshop
Read moreNational Patient Safety Alert: Potential contamination of non-sterile alcohol-free skin cleansing wipes with Burkholderia spp: measures to reduce patient risk National Patient Safety Alert Reference Number: NatPSA/2025/002/UKHSA Date of issue: 26/06/2025 Explanation of identified safety issue UKHSA is investigating an outbreak of Burkholderia stabilis involving individuals across the UK, linked to wipes. Following testing, Burkholderia
Read moreFrom July 2025, Category A reimbursement prices will be based on data from suppliers obtained under the Health Service Products (Provision and Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2018. This follows a transition period which took place over six financial quarters from April 2024 to the end of June 2025, with reimbursement prices determined using a variable
Read moreThe Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has today (26/06/2025) confirmed the following list of price concessions for June 2025: Drug Pack size Price concession Acetazolamide 250mg tablets 112 £75.25 Alendronic acid 70mg tablets 4 £0.99 Buprenorphine 2mg sublingual tablets sugar free 7 £1.48 Buprenorphine 8mg sublingual tablets sugar free 7 £4.59 Carbocisteine 375mg capsules
Read moreThe Drug Tariff Preface published monthly, lists additions, deletions and other changes to products listed in the Drug Tariff. Below is a summary of the changes coming into effect from 1 July 2025. Key g Special container – This product is a special container and should be dispensed in its complete original pack size. n Item requiring reconstitution
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MHRA Class 2 Medicines Notification: Depo-Medrone 80 mg in 2 mL (Maxearn Limited) Drug alert number: EL(25)A/29 Date issued: 25 June 2025 A batch of Depo-Medrone has been released to the market with an error. The vial over label incorrectly states that the total vial content is 40 mg in 1 mL, when the correct
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