On 20th October 2020 new NHS regulations were laid to introduce changes to the Terms of Service for pharmacy contractors. Some of these changes relate to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but most are changes which were previously agreed as part of the 5-year Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) and were originally planned to be introduced in July 2020.

This article is one of a series, explaining what the changes mean for pharmacy contractors and their teams.

This change applies from:

9th November 2020

What is the new requirement?

Pharmacy contractors must ensure there is a comprehensive and accurate profile for their pharmacy on the NHS website (www.nhs.uk). Contractors must also ensure they verify and, where necessary, update the information contained in the profile at least once each quarter of the financial year. The financial quarters are:

• 1st April to 30th June;
• 1st July to 30th September;
• 1st October to 31st December; and
• 1st January to 31st March.

The first verification and update must therefore be undertaken by 31st December 2020 and must include any changes to the pharmacy’s opening hours over the Christmas period.

The following information forms part of a pharmacy’s profile:

• Organisation name;
• Address;
• Opening hours (the usual opening hours and those for Bank Holidays, Christmas Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday);
• The facilities the pharmacy provides;
• The services the pharmacy provides;
• Telephone number; and
• Website URL.

Contractors are required to verify and update, where required, all elements of their profile to meet the new contractual requirement.

Most contractors are already used to checking and updating their NHS website profile, as this was previously a requirement of the Pharmacy Quality Scheme. Each contractor is able to verify or amend their profile through the NHS Website Provider Information Management System (PIMS).

Contractors must ensure they update their NHS website profile where the pharmacy’s opening hours change, either temporarily or permanently.

Where can I get more support on this?

Further information on the NHS website, including how to gain access to update pharmacy profiles, can be found on PSNC’s NHS website page.