| Weekly News Digest - 25th June 2026 |
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| The Government has announced of a new one-off, time-limited Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination service for those considered at highest risk see service specifiction here. The Item of Service fee is £10.06 per eligible vaccination. To support delivery and encourage uptake, community pharmacies can also receive: £300 payment — if at least one vaccination is administered and £400 payment — if 100 or more vaccinations are administered. To be guaranteed vaccine supply for the programme start on 20 July 2026, pharmacies must register by 6 July 2026 using the registration form. |
| NHS England has authorised, and UKHSA has published, the PGD and VGD for the 2026/27 flu vaccination campaign. VGDs work similarly to PGDs, with pharmacists and pharmacy technicians as the clinician, and allow delegation of preparation, administration and record‑keeping to trained staff. Pharmacy owners can choose either route. If you wish to provide flu and COVID‑19 or adult flu only you can register via the MYS portal. Registration must be completed by 11.59pm, 31 July 2026. The final registration deadline is 11.59pm, 30 November 2026. Click here. |
| There is a large number of contractors across the Thames Valley region who have not completed the Annual Complaints Report. All community pharmacies are reminded that non‑compliance with contractual requirements may result in a breach notice being issued by NHS England. For guidance on how to submit your report, please visit the CPE website. |
| CPE has highlighted that some pharmacies still have large numbers of unresolved referred back (RB) items. This can delay reimbursement. RB items remain on the NHSBSA MYS portal for 18 months before they are automatically deleted. Pharmacy owners are encouraged to check MYS regularly, review the Unpaid items tab, and submit any missing information promptly. CPE have provided practical guidance: Funding & Reimbursement Shorts video on referred back items. |
| CPE has produced a new Dispensing Factsheet: Lost or Damaged Prescription Bundles which outlines the steps pharmacy teams should take if the end of month paper prescription bundle does not reach the NHSBSA pricing team. The factsheet explains the steps pharmacy owners should take to investigate, report and claim for any lost or damaged paper prescriptions submitted in the bundle. |
The latest edition of the Thames Valley Prescribing Newsletter is now available to view. |
Prescription charges – what does the patient pay?
CPE in-house Drug Tariff experts have created a new video discussing prescription charges. The video provides guidance on how pharmacy teams can determine the number of charges that apply to items dispensed against NHS prescriptions. |
| Download the latest edition of the Healthwatch Oxfordshire newsletter. |
CPE has published updated guidance explaining how pharmacy owners can identify expensive items. The Expensive Items factsheet outlines when the expensive item fee is paid and where you can find details that it has been processed for payment. It also explains how to use the Prescription Item Report (PIR) to reconcile payments and what to do if payment discrepancies are identified. |
| Need a bit of help or clarity on anything service or contract‑related? Got something you want us to take to the next LPC meeting? Or just fancy popping in for a chat with the LPC team? Meeting link. |
| The DSPTK submission is due by 30th June 2026 and is part of a pharmacy’s annual information governance (IG) declaration. It is a mandatory requirement under the NHS Terms of Service. CPE have provided resources to help with completion. |
| There have been a few cases recently of overuse of the service by patients going to multiple pharmacies to obtain repeat medication. Community Pharmacy England briefing on the urgent supply of medicines and appliances strand of Pharmacy First has been published previously. Please read to refresh your responsibility and accountabilities when delivering the service. |
| Stay on top of your schedule with ease using our Monthly Deadline Tracker. This June edition is designed to keep you organized and help you meet your deadline effortlessly. |
| The new PQS for 2026/27 has now been announced. To qualify for payment, contractors must meet all three parts of the gateway criterion. Further details on each requirement and full guidance is available on the CPE PQS Hubpage, including a helpful set of downloadable resources to support pharmacies in staying on track, including a PQS Action and Evidence Workbook. |
| Newly Qualified & Foundation Pharmacists – Book Your Place! A dedicated clinical development session for Newly Qualified and Foundation Pharmacists will run on Monday 28 September, 9am–1pm, at: St Joseph’s Church (Main Hall) 36 Cookham Rd Maidenhead SL6 7EG (Parking available) There are 9 places available. To book, email: office@cptv.org.uk. Please note - Non attendance will incur a £100 fee. |
| CPE is coming to the South East this July to meet directly with pharmacy owners and their representatives as part of our annual series of regional evening roadshow events. Your local session takes place on Thursday 9th July in Farnborough – bringing senior CPE figures together with local pharmacies to talk honestly about funding, pressures on the sector, and what needs to happen next. We hope the series of events will explain the CPCF negotiations, give attendees the chance to ask questions and challenge decisions, gathering real-world insight to help shape preparations for future negotiations. It’s a valuable opportunity to share local experiences, influence future priorities, and connect with colleagues from across the region. Register for your local event. |
| CPPE have released their latest core workshops which include online and face to face events. The workshops are open for booking now. For more details and to book your place, please refer to the embedded links in the attached flyer. |
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