NHS Contractual queries and support

On this page you will information on contractual issues.

You can contact the local NHS regional area team on hweicbhv.pharmacy@nhs.net

The regional team can help with:

  • Pharmaceutical Services Regulations Committee
  • Applications for inclusion in or amendments to the pharmaceutical list (via Primary Care Support England (PCSE)
  • Maintain the Pharmaceutical list for East of England
  • Unscheduled closures
  • Issues with the waste contractual arrangements
  • Annual complaints return
  • Pharmaceutical pre-registration trainee applications
  • Community Pharmacy Assurance Framework (CPAF)
  • New Medicines Service (NMS) administration
  • Christmas and Easter Rotas
  • NHS mail applications

New Contractor Webinar GPhC, NHSE and CPE recently held a joint webinar aimed at new pharmacy owners. The slides contain some useful reminders and links for both new and more experienced contractors.

NHS England (NHSE) East Community Pharmacy Resource Guide
The guide is underneath the door posters.

NHSE Pharmacy Manual

Bank Holiday Opening

Use this poster to show your opening hours over the Christmas Period – Generic Door Poster to Display – Christmas New Year 2023-2024 and then also display this poster to show which pharmacies are open – 2023_24 Xmas Door Poster CP final Make sure the posters are displayed so they can be seen when your pharmacy is closed. If you need door posters for other areas they can be found here.

It is a Terms of Service requirement to verify and update the information in your nhs.uk and DoS profiles. This can be done using the profile manager – NHS Profile Manager – NHS Digital

Complaints and Practice Leaflet

It is a requirement that your practice leaflet includes details of how to contact the local ICB (the commissioner of pharmacy services).

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB 

By post: Patient Experience Team, NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB, Gemini House, Bartholomew’s Walk, Cambridgeshire Business Park, Angel Drove, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4EA

By email: cpicb.pet@nhs.net  If you are making a complaint, please state: ‘For the attention of the complaints team’ in the subject line.

More information on the practice leaflet requirements, including a template, is on the CPE website.

You can display this leaflet if you wish, but it doesn’t replace the requirement to have a practice leaflet.

complaints-flyer-06-07-23

Data Security and Protection Toolkit

PSNC held a Data Security and Protection Toolkit webinar on 23rd February 2023. A recording of this and further information can be found here.

Patient Safety Incident Reporting

Pharmacies are required to record patient safety incidents and report them to the National Reporting and Learning Service (NRLS). Further information can be found on the CPE website

Performance Management

There has recently been an increase in the number of pharmacy incidents being reported to the NHSE Regional Team. The NHSE Regional Team is responsible for investigating these incidents and demonstrating that learning has taken place. If you are contacted by NHSE for more information regarding an incident you should consider using learning from the CPPE risk management module to help you respond. For more information on the process see the document ‘Managing Pharmacy Performance Concerns’. If you have any questions or require confidential advice contact the LPC – secretary@cambslpc.org.uk

Managing Pharmacy Performance Concerns

National Clinical Audit

Click here for the local antimicrobial treatment guidelines. This information is available on the NetFormulary website – http://www.cambridgeshireandpeterboroughformulary.nhs.uk/

Unplanned Closure

In the event that your pharmacy has to close unexpectedly you must inform the ICB  as stated in chapter 36 of the pharmacy manual. You will need to complete annex 18

Send the form to hweicbhv.pharmacy@nhs.net 

You will also need to update your NHS profiles page, so that NHS 111 does not direct patients to your pharmacy. This is especially important if you offer the CPCS service. The number to call can be found on annex c of your CPCS SOP.

It would also be helpful to contact your local pharmacies, surgeries and drugs teams.