The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has today (21st February 2023) announced that women in England will be able to access cheaper Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for menopause through a new Hormone Replacement Therapy prescription prepayment certificate (HRT PPC). From 1st April 2023, women who usually pay for their HRT prescriptions will be able to purchase an
Read moreThe deadline for formal nominations ahead of the elections for the non-CCA Multiple representatives on PSNC, soon to be renamed Community Pharmacy England, is 12 noon on Thursday 24th February 2023. For information on the role of a PSNC member, eligibility for the role and an outline of the election process, please see the following briefing. Those wishing to stand for election can access
Read moreAt Parliamentary Health Questions yesterday, the Conservative MP for Eastleigh, Paul Holmes, asked what actions the Government is taking to reverse the current worrying trend of pharmacy closures. This followed a meeting between Mr Holmes, his local LPC and PSNC last year, followed by further PSNC briefings to him and his team. In response, the Parliamentary
Read more39 MPs and Peers from across the political spectrum have signed letters to the Health Secretary, Steve Barclay MP, raising their growing concern about the pressures facing England’s community pharmacies and the risks this poses to patient care and safety. Steve Barclay MP received correspondence from 23 Opposition MPs, with six Peers also signing a
Read moreIn her latest blog, PSNC CEO Janet Morrison explains how we will use the Pharmacy Pressures Survey in our influencing and campaigning work, and asks pharmacy owners and teams across England to respond to it. Results from this nationwide survey will help us to demonstrate the scale of the pressures that the community pharmacy sector
Read moreThe Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has today (20/02/2023) granted the following list of price concessions for February 2023. Drug Pack Size Price concession Amoxicillin 125mg/5ml oral suspension 100 £4.05 Amoxicillin 125mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free 100 £3.89 Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free 100 £3.60 Amoxicillin 500mg capsules 15 £2.15 Amoxicillin 500mg
Read moreWe recently announced the PSNC election cycle for the Non-CCA Multiple Representatives and PSNC formally invited nominations from contractors wishing to stand for election. To be eligible to stand for election the candidate must be a pharmacist, registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council, and be a Multiple pharmacy contractor or be employed by a multiple
Read morePSNC met for a full Committee meeting early in February to consider the urgent funding and capacity crisis, as well as proposals from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England on price concessions reform and relief measures to ease pressure on pharmacies. The Committee considered the impact of the current crisis,
Read moreIt is now 18 years since the first electronic prescription was received by a community pharmacy in February 2005. Back then, the Co-op pharmacy on Scott Street in Keighley, West Yorkshire, received a prescription for atenolol from their local GP practice. Instead of coming into the pharmacy through the front door in the form of
Read moreIn response to a significant ongoing disruption to the supply of Paracetamol 120mg suppositories, a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) has been issued by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Effective today, 16 February 2023, SSP050 provides that for every Paracetamol 120mg suppository originally prescribed, one Paracetamol 125mg suppository must be supplied. SSP050, authorised by the
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