| Weekly News Digest - 20th February 2025 |
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Independent Contractor LPC Committee Member Elections 2025Attention Independent Contractors! We are pleased to inform you about the upcoming election for the Thames Valley Local Pharmaceutical Committee. There were four nominations:- Irida Andoni - Hanborough Pharmacy
- Ali Jaffar - Downland Pharmacy
- Vikash Patel - Bensons Pharmacy
- Taofik Shodunke - The Leys Pharmacy
As a result, an election will be held to determine the appointed candidate. Each NHS pharmacy premises owned in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire will be permitted one vote (i.e., one vote per ODS code).
Cast Your Vote
Please ensure your vote is cast by 12 noon on Friday, 7th March 2025. See here for more information and personal statements from the candidates. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make your voice heard and shape the leadership that represents you. |
NHSE, DHSC, and UKHSA have published guidance for the 2025/26 flu vaccination programme. The letter outlines eligible cohorts, reimbursed vaccines, and programme timing, which remain unchanged from 2024/25. See here for more information. Further details on the autumn/winter 2025/26 flu and COVID-19 programmes will be released later this year. |
BOB ICB PCN Community Pharmacy Leads Teams Meeting – 24 March 2025 The next meeting for BOB ICB PCN Community Pharmacy Leads will take place on Monday, 24 March via MS Teams from 7pm to 8pm. Calendar invites have been sent out by the ICB, but if you have not received it, please contact louise.carlisle@nhs.net at the ICB. The key focus will be the Pharmacy Contraception Service. An agenda will be circulated prior to the meeting. If you have any questions contact Kevin Barnes: cso@cptv.org.uk |
Community Pharmacy England is encouraging pharmacy owners to check their disallowed items history on the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal to identify any unpaid items and check the reasons why these were disallowed by the NHSBSA. If an item is believed to have been incorrectly disallowed, pharmacy owners should submit a challenge to the NHSBSA, who will investigate the issue and rectify any missing payments if a pricing error is identified. See here for more information. |
Community Pharmacy England have created video shorts providing guidance on Original Pack Dispensing (OPD) including how and when to apply the new +/-10% rules. See here for more information. |
| You can now view the Data Security and Protection Toolkit workshop webinar on demand. Click here. |
Support No Smoking Day and raise awareness of the day, the new theme is based around ‘Take back your life back this No Smoking Day’. The campaign aims to communicate messages of hope and optimism, focussing on the real-life benefits people have and will experience when they quit smoking for good. Resources are now available to download. |
From 5 April 2025, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will stop tax credit payments and tax credit exemption certificates will no longer grant automatic free NHS prescriptions. People receiving tax credits are being moved to Universal Credit, however, it does not automatically entitle patients to help with their health costs and patients will be required to meet the Universal Credit criteria. For more details, visit the NHSBSA website. |
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We are delighted to report that Lee Dillon, MP for Newbury, recently visited Halo Pharmacy in Thatcham to discuss the vital services they provide to our community. During the visit, Lee Dillon MP was joined by Phillip Obomighie, pharmacy owner, David Dean, Chief Offier and Kevin Barnes from Community Pharmacy Thames Valley. The visit highlighted the importance of supporting local pharmacies to ensure they can continue to serve our community effectively. We would like to thank Phillip for hosting the visit and for their continued dedication to providing excellent healthcare services to Thatcham residents. |
| The revised threshold for February is 25 clinical pathway consultations. Please remember that you only have 3 months to submit a claim after consultation, ie for February 2025 the last date is 5th May 2025. Click here. |
| Community Pharmacy Thames Valley is asking pharmacy owners and staff to share their views in a short 10 minute survey. The survey closes on 28th February 2025. For more information visit the Community Pharmacy England website. |
Recognition of Excellence Awards 2025The Recognition of Excellence (RoE) Awards continuing to champion the work of community pharmacy staff across the UK are now open for entries. Pharmacy teams from across the UK are encouraged to nominate themselves or colleagues before the closing date 4 April 2025. See here for more information on how to enter. |
| Webinars about the future of collaborative pharmacy professional leadership will be held from 3rd to 25th February 2025. The webinars are open to all pharmacists and the wider pharmacy team. Why Attend? Contribute to shaping a more collaborative approach to pharmacy professional leadership that benefits patients and professionals alike. Register: See here for dates and sign-up links. |
If you have questions about the NHS Pharmacy contraception service, CPPE is running an online NHS Pharmacy Contraception service (PCS) - panel discussion. Dates: 26th February 2025 and 12th March 2025 from 7pm to 8pm. This webinar is a panel discussion includes representatives from NHSE, CPE and pharmacists delivering the contraception service. To register, click here.
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| PrescQIPP provide information, guidance and support on prescribing and help to make sure that treatments prescribed to patients are safe, effective and good value for money. See here for more information. |
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