A total of 14 Serious Shortage Protocols (SSP) will expire today (12 May) as the Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed availability of the
products to meet normal demand.
The products include Sandrena 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets, Lipitor 10mg chewable tablets, Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml and 250mg/5ml oral solution, sugar free
variant of both doses and 250mg tablets, and Paracetamol 120mg and 240mg suppositories.
The expiring SSPs include three related to Sandrena gel sachets, one for Lipitor, eight concerning Phenoxymethylpenicillin and two for Paracetamol. These will expire
at 23.59pm on Friday 12 May and any prescriptions for these products must be dispensed in accordance with the prescription after that.
From July 2022, Manage Your Services (MYS) portal will be the only route available for pharmacy contactors to submit all new prescription returns/referred
back items and disallowed items, reminded the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC).
Contractors will be able to view and submit the required information for all these items only through the MYS portal.
The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) will send out a notification email from July (for the dispensing month of June) to the pharmacy NHSmail account if any
new referred back or disallowed items have been generated for the contractor to complete on their MYS account.
"Contractors can view any referred back items for completion by checking the 'Unpaid items' tab on MYS landing page," PSNC.
"It is important to note that prescription returns/referred back items via MYS are only held in the system for a period of 18 months from the date they are first
sent to the pharmacy for action; if contractors have not completed and returned any outstanding referred backs before this deadline has passed, the referred back
items will be deleted from system."
The Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP), for Estradot 50mcg patches will expire at 23.59pm on Friday 24 February 2023.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed that sufficient stock of Estradot 50mcg patches are now available to meet normal demand.
"After 24th February, any prescriptions for Estradot 50mcg patches must be dispensed in accordance with the prescription, and SSP048 will no longer be valid for
use," said DHSC.
Top tips for SSP claims by PSNC:
Where available, use the claim amend facility on the PMR system to rectify any incorrect EPS claims already submitted this month.
For any supplies made in accordance with SSPs, check that the correct number of patient charges are collected and declared on the end of month FP34C submission.
NHSBSA advise that contractors must follow the specific endorsement guidance issued with each SSP and endorsements should be clear and unambiguous - NHSBSA
processing staff must be able to determine what has been supplied. NHSBSA have published information on common SSP endorsing errors they see when processing claims.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has revised concession prices for four products and confirmed three further price concessions for May 2024.
This announcement comes in response to representations made by Community Pharmacy England (CPE) on behalf of community pharmacy owners
Concession prices have been redetermined for Ezetimibe 10mg tablets, Quetiapine 100mg tablets, Quetiapine 150mg tablets and Quetiapine 200mg tablets.
Here are the newly granted concessions:
Nicorandil 10mg tablets (60 tablets): £5.05
Nicorandil 20mg tablets (60 tablets): £9.30
Pregabalin 75mg capsules (56 capsules): £1.54
The revised prices will be applicable to prescriptions submitted for payment during the dispensing month of May 2024, and do not apply to June 2024 prescriptions,
the CPE noted.
Boots has shut down three more stores, as it moves forward with its plan to close 300 stores across the UK over the next 12 months.
On Saturday (18 November), Boots closed its branches in Mudge Way, Plymouth; Mount Pleasant Road, Exeter; and Low Moor Road, Kirkby, Ashfield.
The NHS issued a memo to shoppers and patients who use the Plymouth branch, which is located next to Plympton Health Centre, to inform them that "you will
need to find and nominate another pharmacy to dispense your prescriptions going forward."
Patients can set their nomination by contacting their new pharmacy and requesting "they do this for you."
According to DevonLive, a note was attached to the Mount Pleasant pharmacy door that read: "Boots Mount Pleasant Store will close on Saturday, November 18 2023.
Since 1990, Glendale Pharmacy in Wooler, Northumberland, has been under the ownership of Andrew Booth, who recently decided to sell it to pursue a
well-earned retirement.
According to Christie & Co, the community pharmacy has been acquired by Jagraj Randeva, who owns a small portfolio of pharmacies in Ashington and Newcastle
upon Tyne.
Jagraj was particularly drawn to this pharmacy because of its advantageous, unchallenged location and its strong historical performance.
Located near the Cheviot Hills and 17 miles south of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Glendale Pharmacy dispenses an average of 6,600 items per month.
Karl Clezy, Director - Pharmacy at Christie & Co, noted that Glendale Pharmacy has seen an improvement in its trading performance since the start of the
marketing process, increasing its prescription numbers and providing more additional/enhanced services.
Nearly 9,000 pharmacy contractors benefitted from earlier advance payment in January, Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) said in an update.
Contractors who declared their December FP34C submission figures (for the dispensed prescriptions) through the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal by January 6, would have received earlier advance payments on January 12.
Meanwhile, all contractors who made submissions after January 6 or used the FP34C paper document, will receive payments as per the normal payment schedule i.e. on
February 1, 2022.
PSNC encouraged contractors to submit their monthly declaration through the MYS portal by the 5th of the month to avail early payments.
A pharmacy group operating in London and the surrounding areas has said it's cliched a financial deal worth £4.25 million with a major global bank to bolster
its mergers and acquisitions activity.
Osbon Pharmacy Group said on Monday (19 June) that it would use the multi-million-pound funding package from HSBC UK to also invest in bringing accessible and
comprehensive medical services closer to the doorstep of Londoners and people of South East England.
The family-run business said the new money will open new position which will include opportunities for pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians,
dispensers, accounts clerks and delivery drivers, taking the company's total headcount to 185.
The group, which currently has 26 pharmacies across London and South East England, was established in 2005.
The company offers a range of medicine and prescription services as well as offering customary help and advice. It switched to banking with HSBC UK last year as
part of a £6.9M refinance package, which saw the business acquire nine pharmacies and takes the total funding provided by HSBC UK to date to £11.1m.
From April 2022, contractors will have to make all monthly FP34C submissions only through the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) said in an update.
This will be for prescriptions dispensed from March 2022.
The last paper FP34C submission document will be posted out to contractors this month.
Contractors who have not yet registered for MYS, can do so by completing the form on the NHSBSA's website.
While encouraging contractors to switch to the MYS, the negotiator stated that nearly 1,500 pharmacy contractors still depend on the paper FP34C submission document.
To curb the supply issue of HRT medicine, the government has taken a further action by issuing SSPs for Oestrogel, Ovestin cream, Lenzetto transdermal spray and Sandrena gel sachets - with appropriate alternatives.
The move aims to allow community pharmacists to supply specified alternatives to the prescribed HRT products without needing to seek authorisation from the clinician
who has prescribed the medicine.
The regulator said that the availability of Premique Low Dose has impoved 'thanks to SSPs issued on 29 April to restrict dispensing for Oestrogel, Ovestin and Premique Low Dose to three months' supply'.
"Since these measures were implemented, further deliveries of all three products have been made, with Premique Low Dose returning to good availability this week. The manufacturers of Oestrogel and Ovestin, as well as suppliers of alternative HRT products, are taking action to increase UK supply."
It added, "SSPs restricting prescriptions to a maximum of three months' supply will also be issued for substitute products, as a precautionary measure to ensure the supply of those substitutes is maintained."
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) and NHS England have agreed that community pharmacy contractors will have to participate in one
mandatory national health campaign.
This campaign on weight management commenced from Tuesday (03 January) and will run until Sunday (29January).
PSNC said: "Pharmacies can be required to participate in up to six health campaigns at the request of NHS England per year (1st April to 31st March).
Pharmacies will be involved by displaying and distributing leaflets provided by NHS England.
In addition, pharmacies are required to undertake prescription-linked interventions on major areas of public health concern, such as encouraging smoking cessation.
"Contractors can order pharmacy specific posters, wallet cards ('info' cards with a QR code signposting people to the Better Health website and free tips and tools
to lose weight) and a dispenser for these cards on the Campaign Resource Centre website. A guidance leaflet to support community pharmacy teams' conversations with
patients is also available," said PSNC.
As the Easter holiday draws near, pharmacies across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are readying themselves to provide essential healthcare services
to residents.
Operational throughout Good Friday (March 29), Easter Sunday (March 31), and Easter Monday (April 1), these pharmacies stand poised to offer vital support to
those in need.
NHS England has raised awareness by releasing a comprehensive list of pharmacies scheduled to operate during the holiday period. Hampshire residents, including
those in Southampton and Portsmouth, can access detailed information about open pharmacies on the NHS England website, along with separate listings for the Isle
of Wight.
However, it's important to note that opening times may vary, prompting individuals to confirm details before visiting, as schedules are subject to change.
Beyond merely dispensing prescriptions, pharmacies are equipped to provide expert advice on minor illnesses and administer treatments for common conditions. This
includes addressing issues such as shingles, sore throats, infected insect bites, earaches, sinusitis, impetigo, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections
(UTI) under the Pharmacy First scheme.
Nestled in the heart of a bustling high street and a housing estate, at Lincoln Pharmacy, part of Mildcare Ltd Group, in Tower Hamlets in London, the scene
is a testament to resilience and innovation, where queues of people seek aid from a pharmacy technician stationed behind a glass window-a symbol of the enduring
impact of the pandemic.
Amidst the array of modern amenities at the pharmacy stands Atulkumar Patel, the proprietor and Independent Prescriber (IP) at Lincoln Pharmacy, whose vision has
propelled the establishment into a beacon of progressive healthcare.
Owner of two Pharmacies, Patel's team of 20 dispenses an average of 20,000 prescriptions monthly, maintaining an NHS/OTC split of 80/20.
Recipient of the prestigious Independent Prescriber of the Year award at the Pharmacy Business Awards 2023, Patel reflects on the pivotal moment when his
pharmacy pioneered the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine jabs within the community.
"When doctors' doors closed, pharmacy was the only place where people could get help and care," Patel recounts, emphasising the pivotal role pharmacies played
during the crisis.
Patel's dedication during the pandemic extended beyond mere service provision; it was about showcasing the untapped potential of pharmacies.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has redetermined the December 2023 concessionary prices for four medicines following requests made by
Community Pharmacy England (CPE) on behalf of community pharmacy owners.
For Ezetimibe 10mg tablets (pack size 28), the price has been fixed at £17.78, up from £9.44.
Other drugs included in the list are Aripiprazole 5mg (£8.52), Digoxin 125microgram (£3.70) and Digoxin 250micrgram (£3.70) tablets.
Contractors would be reimbursed at the new prices only for prescriptions submitted for payment for the dispensing month of December 2023.
CPE said they are still working with DHSC to agree price concessions for January.
Check the final the December 2023 price concessionary here.
Additionally, DHSC on Friday confirmed that there's now sufficient stock of Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension to meet normal demand, and the Serious
Shortage Protocol (SSP), SSP053 for the antibiotic expires on 12 January 2024.
The current funding and contractual framework for community pharmacy is not fit for purpose, the Health and Social Care Committee report has concluded,
recommending a complete overhaul to reduce its complexity.
Published today, the report highlighted the necessity for a new framework to ensure adequate funding and to prevent damaging cross-subsidy between clinical
services and prescription dispensing, as is presently observed.
The report revealed that community pharmacy funding has fallen by over 30 per cent in real terms since 2015, resulting in an annual shortfall of at least £67,000
per pharmacy for individual owners.
More than 1,100 community pharmacies have closed since 2015, of which were serving the most deprived areas, it said.
MPs on the committee have urged the government to address medicine shortages, warning that they could undermine flagship initiatives such as 'Pharmacy First' by
eroding public confidence in pharmacists.
"People living with type 2 diabetes, ADHD, epilepsy and cystic fibrosis, and those experiencing the menopause, have faced challenges accessing the vital
medication they need. Many others are facing similar experiences.
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has alerted pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy owners via email regarding new emergency legislation
governing the prescribing and supply of puberty-suppressing hormones, commonly known as 'puberty blockers', for children and young people under 18 in England,
Wales, and Scotland.
The regulations apply to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues, used to suppress puberty as part of treating gender incongruence or gender dysphoria in
individuals under 18.
Effective from 3 June 2024, new private prescriptions for GnRH analogues from prescribers in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland who are not UK
registered are banned from being dispensed in Great Britain for patients under 18.
The emergency ban on these medicines will remain in effect until September 3, 2024, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced on 29 May, stating
that the action has been taken to address risks to "patient safety."
A community pharmacy in Consett, County Durham, North East England, has been sold to a locum pharmacist after the previous owner decided to put it on
the market following 29 years of ownership.
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, recently announced the sale of Moorside Pharmacy, a 30-hour community pharmacy that dispenses an average
of 3,200 NHS items per month.
Located 1.5 miles west of Consett, the pharmacy shares a building with a small GP surgery in Moorside.
Rachel Hurst, who has owned it since 1995, brought it to the market to downsize her operations and focus on her busier pharmacies - one in Consett and two in
Crook, County Durham, according to the broker.
Following a confidential sales process, locum pharmacist Monju Miah has acquired the pharmacy. He plans to manage it hands-on and introduce additional services
that will benefit the local population, the broker stated.
The General Pharmaceutical Council's Investigating Committee took decisive action on March 25, 2024, by issuing a warning to Dilsha Kiran Shah,
registration number: 2049787, for her conduct as Superintendent Pharmacist of Jhoots Healthcare Ltd.
Miss Shah's failure to uphold the Medicines Act 1968, specifically in ensuring the proper management of medicinal products, triggered this warning.
The Act mandates supervision in "keeping, preparing, and dispensing medicinal products other than those on a general sale list."
Moreover, pharmacies are inspected on five principles - Governance, Staff, Premises, Services including medicines management, and Equipment and facilities to
meet the right standards.
The alarm was initially raised in August 2021 when a Jhoots Healthcare Ltd pharmacy branch under Miss Shah's supervision operated without a responsible pharmacist.
Despite explicit instructions, pharmacy staff were allegedly instructed to proceed without proper supervision, raising grave concerns regarding patient safety.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and BeWell are working together to help provide efficiencies and productivity that address the growing pressures within
community pharmacy.
BeWell's Pharmacy Management Platform provides robust solutions that include Patient Relationship Management, Omnichannel Communications and Engagement, Services
and Bookings Management, access to patient records, NHS Login supported Patient Application, and repeat prescription capabilities for Pharmacy Website and Patient
App that include integrations with Surgery Online Services.
This single interoperable platform is also integrated with pharmacy PMRs, connecting back office and administrative functions with front-of-house digital patient
experiences. In line with the NPA's vision, BeWell has taken a leading role in formulating a unique ecosystem of pharmacy partners uniting marketing agencies,
PGD-based service providers, and delivery method partners - integrating their capabilities within the BeWell platform.
Community pharmacies are located within the very hotspots of peoples' communities, yet a staggering 720 individual businesses have stopped trading since 2015.
It has been called a "national disgrace and a betrayal to the elderly and the vulnerable" by sector leaders.
The funding crisis has been compounded by a gruelling 18-24 months post-Covid, both have which have placed immense pressure on the retail pharmacy sector.
The population is aging and with this comes patients living with a range of long-term health conditions. Medication regimes are becoming ever more complex and as a
result, maintaining prescription and medication adherence services is challenging to say the least.
Yet the public feel great warmth towards their local pharmacy businesses, and this positive attitude only increased during the pandemic. In fact, in a recent report
launched by Omnicell on the Changing Role of the Pharmacist, a survey of public opinion found that a third (32 per cent) said they perception of their local
pharmacy had changed for the better since the start of the pandemic and nearly half (44 per cent) said they are more familiar with their local pharmacy services
since the start of COVID.
This has meant that the role of the pharmacist has also changed and evolved; in part due to a national need and drive for more patients to be seen and supported
clinically by pharmacists.
This change of service provider role has slowly been developing over the last couple of years. Pharmacists are currently carrying out 65 million consultations
a year - a staggering rise of 44 per cent in the last 24 months alone.