COVID-19 Hub : Archived PSNC Main site

COVID-19 Hub

This COVID-19 hub contains links to information, guidance and resources on the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic for community pharmacy contractors and their teams.

Section last updated: 6th June 2022

Our general guidance is that pharmacy contractors and their teams:

Read the NHS England &NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) guidance whenever it is updated and implement its recommended actions;
Review your Infection Prevention and Control measures in your pharmacy and put steps in place to mitigate any risks identified; 
All pharmacy staff should wear facemasks (staff are in general not required to wear facemasks in non-clinical areas);
Implement your business continuity plan where required and seek assistance and advice from your Local Pharmaceutical Committee; and
Keep up to date with developments by regularly checking the information on COVID-19 on GOV.UK, the NHSE&I Coronavirus Primary Care webpage and checking your NHSmail shared mailbox on a regular basis for updates from NHSE&I.

General contractor guidance on operating during the pandemic

COVID-19 testing for pharmacy staff and self-isolation guidance

Infection prevention and control guidance (including Personal Protective Equipment)

Safety and wellbeing of staff (including individual risk assessments)

Posters to display in pharmacies

Pharmacy funding during the pandemic

Pharmacy service provision

Emergency and business continuity planning

EPS/IT contingency arrangements page

COVID-19 vaccinations

Antiviral treatments for COVID-19

Regulatory changes during the pandemic

Promoting pharmacy to others during the pandemic

Messages issued to the sector

England’s new Chief Pharmaceutical Officer praises the work of community pharmacy (25th May 2022)
The recently appointed Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPhO) for England, David Webb, thanked community pharmacy teams for their work throughout the pandemic to support their local communities and reflected on the many achievements so far.

The Prince of Wales congratulates community pharmacy teams for their efforts during the pandemic (5th May 2022)
His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales paid tribute to the incredible efforts of community pharmacy teams throughout the COVID-19 pandemic during a special reception at St James’s Palace.

Letter from UK Chief Pharmaceutical Officers and regulators (21st January 2021)
The Chief Pharmaceutical Officers and regulators for pharmacy in the UK have issued a joint letter thanking all members of the pharmacy team for their ongoing work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and recognised the extreme pressures that they are continuing to face.

Pharmacy Minister’s open letter to community pharmacy staff (5th November 2020)
Jo Churchill MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for community pharmacy, says the Government is “hugely grateful” for the work that community pharmacy teams have undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Matt Hancock thanks NHS workforce (17th August 2020)
The Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, has praised the dedication of those who work for the NHS, whilst calling for evidence on reducing bureaucracy in the health and social care system. Mr Hancock set out what he has learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic and invited views from healthcare workers through an open consultation. The evidence gathered will be used to identify common bureaucratic burdens and make changes where appropriate.

PSNC CEO video message (15th May 2020)
In this video, PSNC Chief Executive Simon Dukes confirms that negotiations on additional funding for the sector are ongoing, and he describes how discussions with DHSC and NHSE&I are now also turning to the expected next phases of the pandemic in the UK.

Video message from the national pharmacy bodies (9th April 2020)
Coming together to film a video thanking the sector for its work to support patients, the CEOs of PSNC, AIM, CCA, NPA and RPS say their teams will continue to fight pharmacy’s corner and work flat out to provide support and guidance.

Pharmacy Minister’s open letter to pharmacy (3rd April 2020)
Jo Churchill MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for community pharmacy, thanks pharmacists and pharmacy teams for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. She says that Government recognised that pharmacy teams were on the front line and thanked them for the outstanding response they were giving patients.