| Weekly News Digest - 9th October 2025 |
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Calling all pharmacy professionals! Join us for our very first Women’s Health Training Event, hosted by the LPC on 2nd November at the Holiday Inn, High Wycombe. Hear from experts on:
💊 Contraception and EHC
🧠 Migraine and Menopause (Pfizer)
🔥 Menopause Care in Pharmacy (Exeltis)
🦠 UTI and Pharmacy First
🍽️ Light lunch included!
📌 Free to attend
Secure your spot today via the registration link and be part of shaping the future of women’s health in community pharmacy. View the agenda for the day.
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| NHS England confirmed messages were sent to under 75s booked via NBS for C-19 vacs to highlight the changes to eligibility and that their eligibility will be checked by pharmacy teams. For more information regarding the updates on actions see here. CPE have been working with NHS England to improve communications and three posters have been created to support vaccine eligibility messaging, view resources. |
Reminder to update NHS profile information for flu and COVID-19 offers including walk in optionsCommunity pharmacies are reminded to update and confirm their NHS Profile Manager details to ensure accurate information for flu and COVID-19 vaccination services, including walk-in options. This supports visibility in the NHS profile and Urgent and Emergency Care Directory. For help, contact nhswebsite.servicedesk@nhs.net. |
| To significantly enhance patient safety, the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire West Integrated Care System (BOB ICS) has issued a new position statement regarding oral methotrexate 10mg tablets. See full details here. |
| New guidance on hub and spoke arrangements under updated approved particulars NHS pharmacy regulations requires contractors to notify their ICB pharmacy contract team at least 28 days in advance; South East pharmacies should email frimleyicb.southeastcommunitypharmacy@nhs.net. Further details are available on the Community Pharmacy England website. |
| The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has decided that pharmacy owners who persistently over-declare their prescription item figures via MYS will no longer receive an advance payment based on their FP34C declaration – instead the advance payment will be calculated using the actual number of EPS claims received by the NHSBSA. Read the briefing EPS factsheet. |
| NHS England’s annual Community Pharmacy Workforce Survey is now open. Pharmacy owners will receive emails from NHSBSA asking them to complete the mandatory online survey, reminder emails will follow in due course, where the survey has not been completed. The survey will closes on Friday 21st November 2025. |
| NHS England and the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) have announced the launch of the Pharmacy technician development programme: Preparing for the future. The programme will be delivered between October 2025 and March 2026 and will focus on supporting pharmacy technicians to adapt to the evolving scope of practice, including recent changes to supervision legislation and the use of Patient Group Directions. See here for more information. |
| NHS England will now manage the Foundation Trainee Pharmacist Programme (FTPP) and provide funding of £27,295 per trainee for the 2025/26 training year—an increase from £26,500. Payments will be made automatically to eligible sites, with no action required, and will include backdated amounts from the trainee's start date. Click here. |
| All pharmacies will need to participate in both the Think Pharmacy First campaigns, using relevant materials to promote the Pharmacy First service to the public. The timings for the campaigns are: Monday 20th October 2025 to Sunday 9th November 2025; and Monday 2nd February 2026 to Sunday 22nd February 2026. The first campaign will take place alongside an NHS England advertising campaign promoting Pharmacy First to the public. For more information and resources to promote the campaign see here. |
| A schedule of protected learning time for GPs in the following areas: Slough STEPS, Bracknell BASE, RBWM EPIC, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire West and Oxfordshire can be viewed here. |
| Independent pharmacy owners are invited to join CPE committee, with a new seat for those operating 1–9 premises. From 1 November 2025, interim changes include: two IPA-nominated 10+ multiple reps, one co-opted independent member, and one fewer CCA rep—effective until April 2027 elections. Click here. |
| Pharmacy owners or representatives are invited to complete a 9-minute NHS England survey to help shape future NHS App features, including scan-to-shelf technology and repeat prescription enquiries. |
Monthly Deadline TrackerStay on top of your schedule with ease using our Monthly Deadline Tracker. This October edition is designed to keep you organized and help you meet your deadline effortlessly. |
| From 29 October 2025, the PCS will expand to include oral emergency contraception (EC), and pharmacy technicians will be able to deliver the service. Updated PGDs and service specifications are already available in draft form on the NHSBSA website. To receive the Pharmacy First Clinical Pathways monthly payment from June 2025, ensure you’re signed up for both PCS and the Hypertension Case-Finding Service (excluding DSPs). Click here. |
| From 29 October 2025, the NMS will expand to include depression as a new eligible medication. Visit the NHSBSA website for updated drug list and service specification. Consultation timings have also been clarified: Intervention should occur 7–14 days after recruitment, with Follow-up 14–21 days after Intervention (exceptions allowed). Subcontracting of NMS will no longer be permitted, with upcoming changes to Service Directions clarifying that only pharmacists employed by the pharmacy owner may provide NMS, and not via remote consultations from off-site locations. Click here. |
| 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. |
Tune in to this week's podcast |
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| The Pharmacy Show returns to the NEC Birmingham on Sunday 12th and Monday 13th October, tickets are free to offering a free, UK-registered healthcare professionals. Community Pharmacy England will be hosting an exhibition stand at # H55. Register for your free ticket |
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