As part of recovery plans following COVID-19, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has produced guidance for clinicians working in general practice, which sets out suggested actions for consideration to support long-term condition management over the next six months. Among the suggestions is for clinicians to consider signposting patients with cardiovascular disease to the
Read moreIn response to a significant ongoing disruption to the supply affecting Lipitor® 10mg chewable tablets and Paracetamol 120mg suppositories, two new Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) have been issued by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). SSP 032 – Lipitor® 10mg chewable tablets Effective today, 31 May 2022, SSP032 provides that for every Lipitor® 10mg chewable tablet
Read moreThe Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has updated Annex A of SSP022 and SSP023 for Oestrogel® Pump-Pack 0.06% gel to include a dose conversion to a specific alternative Estradiol patch for patients who use 1 pump of Oestrogel® daily. Previously, only dose conversions for patients using 2 to 4 pumps daily were included in Annex A of SSP022
Read more10,797 pharmacy contractors who declared their April 2022 FP34C submission figures through the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal by 6 May 2022 received their earlier advance payments on Thursday 12 May 2022 (circa 20 days earlier than the normal advance payment timetable). This leaves c.400 contractors who did not receive any earlier advance payments in
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The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) report seeing a rise in items that are being referred back (RB) to contractors for the reason code RB2B: ‘The order/endorsement is incomplete. The presentation must be present.’ The NHSBSA note that this issue is most commonly seen with handwritten prescriptions. Where prescription does not specify the presentation of a drug
Read moreThe NHS prescription charge is reviewed annually with changes usually made in April, however, this year the Government has yet to conclude consideration of any future increases to prescription charges. Following our announcement that the NHS prescription charge would not be uplifted on 1 April 2022, a decision is yet to be reached on any
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The Review Steering Group (RSG) has published its proposals for the future of community pharmacy contractor representation and support. The proposals make 37 recommendations for the future of PSNC and the LPCs which the RSG says have been written to: Strengthen governance; Better align with the NHS; Appropriately resource representatives; and Strengthen collaboration. The RSG
Read moreWith the early May bank holiday (2 May 2022) occurring in the first five days of the submission window contractors have an extra day (until the end of 6th of May) to submit their FP34C declaration through the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal for NHS pharmaceutical services delivered in April 2022. Contractors must also dispatch their
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The 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 May 2022. Key g Special container – This product is a special container and should be dispensed in its complete original pack size. §
Read morePSNC’s Pharmacy Pressures Survey has confirmed that the unsustainable pressures on community pharmacies are having a serious impact on pharmacy teams’ wellbeing, affecting patient services negatively, and putting businesses at risk. The survey of over 5,000 pharmacy premises and 1,000 pharmacy team members took place in early 2022, asking community pharmacy contractors and, separately, pharmacy
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