REMINDER: Submission of Quarterly MUR & NMS data required now

Written by admin on Friday 20th April 2018

New access to view pharmacy level data across UK from 2018/19 and consequences of not submitting data announced by NHS England. Read more for details....


Reporting of Quarterly MUR and NMS data is nothing new. Many pharmacies complete this activity routinely, however there is still a proportion of pharmacies that do not submit the data on time. Two updates have recently been announced as follows:

Access to individual pharmacy level data from Q1 2018/19 (submitted by contractors in early July 2018)

  • Following discussions with PSNC, NHS England have agreed to the publication of the MUR and NMS quarterly data submitted by pharmacy contractors to the NHS BSA
  • https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pharmacies-gp-practices-and-appliance-contractors/dispensing-contractors-information/medicines-use.
  • The publication should provide a useful picture of the interventions being undertaken in both the services at a national and local level and is useful for LPCs to use in their discussions with local commissioners.
  • Comparison of individual pharmacy level data by contractors to that of other local pharmacies may also prompt reflection on practice and consideration of areas for quality improvement, where necessary; this may also assist some pharmacists with meeting the new GPhC revalidation requirements which will commence in 2019/20.

Consequences of not reporting quarterly data

  • Despite reminders from the NHS BSA to submit the quarterly data, some contractors fail to meet this contractual requirement
  • Where contractors fail to submit their Q1 2018/19 data NHS England expects that breach notices will be issued to contractors.
  • Contractors should have recently submitted their quarterly data for Q4 2017/18 to the NHS BSA. Those that haven't will receive reminders.
  • CPSC is therefore reminding contractors of the importance of submitting this data to prevent such a breach.
  • NHS BSA have been asked whether they can supply LPCs with a list of contractors that have not submitted their Q4 2017/18 data and it is hoped that this data will be supplied to LPCs shortly, to assist with reducing the level of non compliance down to zero.
  • Please act now to ensure all contractors are compliant.