Changes to the Pharmaceutical Services & Local Pharmaceutical Services Regulations
Written by AlisonFreemantle on Friday 28th April 2023
Including details of year 5 PQS
Effective from 25th May 2023
Several regulatory amendments have been laid before Parliament that will come into effect on 25 May 2023. The amendments include provisions to make it easier to change core hours so staff can take rest breaks, temporarily enable coordinated closures via Local Hours Plans and implement business continuity arrangements should the pharmacy be unable to open and allow limited reduction of core hours for contractors who entered the Pharmaceutical List under the 100-hour exemption.
Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS) – launch of year 5 scheme
The year 5 Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) PQS scheme will launch on 1 June 2023 and will consist of one gateway criterion (NMS) and three domains (Medicines Optimistaion, Respiratory and Prevention) with annual funding of £45 million to support national health priorities. The details of PQS will be discussed in our webinar on the 15th May.
Referrals from Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) into the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS)
The May 2023 Drug Tariff has been amended to allow CPCS referrals from UEC (urgent treatment centres and emergency departments). We will inform you when local UEC providers have implemented an electronic referral process and are ready to send referrals.
The service specification for the advanced service has not yet been published.