Last updated:
 22 June 2010

2008

Fees for Contract Applications
The Secretary of State has issued directions requiring PCTs to charge fees for applications for inclusion in the pharmaceutical lists, as of 21st April 2008.

LPC Event a Great Success
The LPC would like to say a big thank you to all who attended the LPC Pharmacy event on 25^th June and helped to make it successful. 
See photos of the event and slides of the presentation from the day.

NHS Next Stage Review
'Our vision for Primary and Community Care'
Part of the wider Darzi review, published 3rd July 2008
Read more in the PSNC article.

'High Quality Care For All'
Lord Darzi's final report, 30th June 2008
Click for the DoH press release and for the  full report

Consultation document and meetings for proposed St Neots GP-Led Health Centre more here

Category M Price Changes
The 14th Category M price changes have been announced. These prices will apply to prescriptions dispensed in July to September 2008. Go to the PSNC website to read more

Community Pharmacy Event, 25th June 2008
"The New Future for Pharmacy"
This free event was for all Cambridgeshire & Peterborough pharmacists and their pharmacy team members.

Smartcard Renewals for East Cambs & Fenland ONLY - details for other areas  yet to be arranged.
Please click here to see the arrangements for the renewal of Smartcards in E Cambs & Fenland.
Please do not contact if you are not East Cambs & Fenland.

Cambridgeshire Needle Exchange Claims
Following on from the tendering process last year, Addaction will be providing services for substance misuse from April 1^st in Cambridgeshire.
Contractors providing Needle Exchange need to submit claim forms for February immediately, if they haven’t already done so, estimating figures to the end of the month. The forms for March need to be submitted by the end of the first week in March, estimating figures for the rest of the month. This promptness is required because DAAT will not be able to carry over any money beyond March 31^st, so needs the forms in to calculate and make payments. Please note there is no change to the address for forms. Do ensure you put enough postage on the envelope - A4 envelopes are classed as large letters. Please visit the Royal Mail Price Finder if you are not sure.

DH Publish Latest Consultation on Stoma and Urology Products
The Department of Health has published revised proposals on the arrangements under Part lX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and urology appliances, click here for more

DH invites bids for "Healthy Town" status
Every town in England has the opportunity to bid for up to £5 million to make their inhabitants more healthy and active, Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo announced click here to read more

Responsible Pharmacist
The Department of Health three month consultation on the Responsible Pharmacist ends on January 20th. The major changes will be to replace the current requirements of the Medicines Act 1968 for every pharmacy to have a pharmacist in 'personal control' of the premises, with the concept of a 'responsible pharmacist'.
These changes will impact on every pharmacy business. Follow this link to the DoH website where the consultation document can be downloaded. Click here to see the PSNC article on the consultation, published in the December 2007 Community Pharmacy News.

New MUR Form
The new Version 2 MUR form is now available. Click here for more information and to download the form from the PSNC website.

2007

Class 1 Drug Alert (Recall) - Zyprexa

Class 1 Drug Alert (Recall) - Plavix PI

Medicine Distribution
OFT Market Study on UK Medicines Distribution
The Office of Fair Trading has launched a market study into the distribution of medicines in the UK. This decision follows recent and proposed distribution changes by leading UK medicine suppliers. Until recently all medicines were distributed through a number of competing wholesalers but in March 2007 Pfizer Limited began selling prescription drugs solely through one wholesaler, Unichem. Other suppliers are also considering introducing significant changes to their own distribution arrangements.
More details can be found on the PSNC website  and the OFT website

AstraZeneca UK Ltd has announced that it has appointed AAH and UniChem as its agency partners to deliver its medicines directly to customers. This new arrangement replaces the traditional system of supplying medicines indirectly through wholesaler intermediaries.The change follows the decision by AstraZeneca to undertake a detailed review of how its medicines reach patients in the UK, to simplify and modernise the existing supply arrangements, which have been largely unchanged for many years. AZ are writing to all pharmacy contractors with information about the new arrangements. A copy of the letter can be downloaded from the PSNC Website and is expected to arrive in pharmacies on Monday 23rd April.
PSNC is seeking to meet with AstraZeneca at the earliest opportunity.

Smoke Free England
New Health Secretary Alan Johnson heralds most important public health legislation for a generation. Go to the article on the PSNC website.
A new report from The School of Pharmacy University of London highlights that "extending pharmacy based stop smoking services could have a radical impact on public health throughout the world". Click here to access the report.

Updated Prescription Charge Card
An updated version of the PSNC 'Prescription Charge Card' is scheduled to arrive in pharmacies by 20^th April. Please note that some multiples will be distributing the card via their internal mail system. If you have not received your card by the 25th April or require additional cards, please contact the PSNC on 01296 432823.
Alternatively, you can download a copy in PDF Format by clicking on the link to the PSNC 2007 prescription charge card

Control of Entry Review
Following on from publication in January 2007 of the Review of Control of Entry Reforms, a further review of contractual arrangements is underway, announced in January 2007 by Andy Burnham, Minister for Health. Led by Anne Galbraith, there will be discussions with various stakeholders to review the contractual arrangements for the future and a report will be completed by March 2007, at which point the DofH will consider formal consultation on proposals for necessary changes. Read the PSNC information here

Prescription Charge Increase Announced
The Department of Health has confirmed that the prescription charge in England will rise 20p on the 1st April to £6.85.  At the same time, the cost of prescription prepayment certificates will increase to £35.85 for 4 months or £98.70 for 12 months. From 1 July 2007, Prescription prepayment certificates covering 3 months at a cost of £26.85 will replace 4 month PPCs. An updated version of the PSNC 'Prescription Charge Card' will be sent to all pharmacies in England at the end of March.If you have not received your card by the 6th April or require additional cards, please email info@psnc.org.uk or call 01296 432823 and another card can be dispatched to you. Please note that some multiples will be distributing the card via their internal mail system.

For more information on this increase and on the Government prescription charge review, due to be reported in July of this year please visit the PSNC website.

Implementation of the Health Act 2006: Fees for Applications to Provide NHS Pharmaceutical Services in England
The Department of Health proposes to amend the 2005 Pharmaceutical Services Regulations to implement the provisions of the Health Act 2006 to enable reasonable charges to be introduced for applications concerning a chemist’s inclusion on a NHS Primary Care Trust list. The charges will be determined by means of Directions from the Secretary of State to PCTs. The Department is therefore formally inviting the views of NHS Employers, PSNC and the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) on these proposals. As this is the first such consultation, the Department is publishing its proposals in full, including the associated draft legislation. Primary Care Trusts, pharmaceutical contractors and other interested parties were invited to comment before the consultation was closed.

Combating Colds & Flu
A campaign aims to remind people of the importance of remembering that simple steps can help stop the spread of colds and flu.

Supervision of  Management and Use of Controlled Drugs
Regulations come into force in Jan 2007 which create the new role of Accountable Officer, appointed or nominated by PCTs and  responsible for monitoring the management and use of controlled drugs.Guidance is expected from the RPSGB on steps pharmacy contractors should take. The PSNC has prepared a briefing paper to introduce the provisions and encourage pharmacy contractors to plan their reviews of SOPs so they can respond quickly when guidance is received from the RPSGB.

PPRS Reform Recommendation
The Office of Fair Trading( OFT)  has recommended that the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) should be reformed, to deliver better value for money from NHS drug spend and to focus business investment on drugs that have the greatest benefits for patients. Read more on the PSNC website.