| Weekly News Digest - 15th January 2026 |
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| There have been some recent incidents where community pharmacies have refused to dispense prescriptions issued by Independent Prescriber (IP) NMPs. All prescriptions involved were correctly completed on lilac forms and clearly marked IP. There may still be confusion due to historic use of lilac forms by non prescribing community nurses. If you are unsure about the validity of a prescription please see here for more. |
| New clinical waste collection and disposal arrangements will be introduced across primary care in early 2026. The new service expected to go live around 4 April 2026. Anenta Ltd, acting as the ICB’s managing agent, will oversee mobilisation, service management and all contract functions, and will be your primary point of contact throughout the transition. Some service elements may change so please see here for full details, updates and guidance, what to expect and how to prepare. |
| Download the latest edition of the BOB Medicines Optimisation newsletter. |
Thames Valley Pharmacists – Support NMS Evaluation and Receive a £40 Voucher The NHS Strategy Unit is working with NHSE to evaluate the New Medicine Service (NMS), and they are looking for a small number of Thames Valley pharmacists to help. They are inviting pharmacists to hand out short recruitment packs to eligible patients (those starting medicines for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or atrial fibrillation) after completing an NMS consultation. These packs explain the study and how patients can volunteer for a brief interview run by their evaluation partner, Ipsos. As a thank‑you, participating pharmacists will receive a £40 shopping voucher. Contact: Bethany Mitchell, Senior Consultant, email bethany.mitchell21@nhs.net. |
| To help encourage as many people as possible to complete the quiz, promotional assets have been developed to help promote the campaign. See here for resources to download. |
Monthly Deadline TrackerStay on top of your schedule with ease using our Monthly Deadline Tracker. This January edition is designed to keep you organized and help you meet your deadline effortlessly. |
| Pharmacy contractors who want to take part in the Spring 2026 COVID‑19 vaccination programme must opt into the 2026/2027 advanced service, which includes offering both COVID‑19 and flu vaccinations throughout 2026–2027. Providers who opt in before 2 February 2026 will be ready to begin vaccinating at the start of Spring 2026. The Spring COVID‑19 vaccination programme will run from 13 April to 30 June 2026. Please read all documents carefully before registering. See here for more information on how to sign up. |
| From 7th January, Pharmacists can authorise pharmacy teams to hand out checked and bagged prescriptions (Human Medicines Regulation 2012, Regulation 220B). |
| The 2025 Pharmacy Pressures Survey showed that more than half of staff experience patient abuse and this is a serious concern for our pharmacies. CPE want to build an updated picture to ensure the voices of pharmacy teams are heard. Please complete this important survey by Thursday, 22nd January 2026. |
| Stay informed with the Pharmacy Academy podcast channel, a great source for weekly updates on essential pharmacy topics, powered by insights from NHS, CPE, and PGD guidance and AI generated for clarity. Stay connected, enhance your expertise, and dive into key pharmacy discussions—all in one place. |
| We are delighted to invite Slough contractors to an upcoming Slough Community Pharmacy Neighbourhood Workshop bringing together local partners and pharmacy colleagues to shape the future of neighbourhood healthcare for Slough. This event will provide a valuable opportunity to connect with stakeholders from the Slough area, including representatives from substance misuse, public health, sexual health, and clinical directors. 📅 Wednesday, 25th February 2026, 7-9pm 📍 Copthorne Hotel Slough-Windsor, Cippenham Lane, Slough, SL1 2YE 📋 Register Here |
| A fully funded 12‑month blended learning opportunity for new pharmacists. The programme supports early‑career pharmacists in developing strong clinical and consultation skills, navigating the challenges of their first roles, and building a solid foundation for future Independent Prescribing (IP) training. Eligible applicants include pharmacists who registered with the GPhC from 2023 onwards, as well as those returning to practice after a career break, or locuming, working across community pharmacy (except Boots). See full details here. |
| CPE and NHSE will host a webinar on Wednesday 21st January at 7.30pm to introduce the new Seasonal Vaccination Service for 2026/27. This advanced service combines the provision of COVID-19 and adult flu vaccinations in community pharmacies. The session will explain how the service works, registration steps and the requirements pharmacy owners will need to meet. Bookings close at midday on 21st January, and joining links will be emailed on the day. |
| Training on giving media interviews and handling the press is being offered to pharmacy owners, team members and LPCs to help build confidence when engaging with journalists and giving interviews. Upcoming sessions: Mon 26 Jan 2026, 7.30–9pm (online) Tue 10 Feb 2026, 7.30–9pm (online) See here for full details. |
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