Between 11:30 am and 11:45 am today (31st December 2021) our phone lines will be down due to some scheduled maintenance being carried out by our IT partners.

This circular advises community pharmacy contractors and NHS Boards on the amendments to the Drug Tariff Part 11 clawback scale.

The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Scotland has written a letter of thanks to CP teams across Scotland

Just to note that there is some confusion regarding the email address that primary care contractors must use to order further stock of LFD kits. In the ‘Manager’s Brief’, the email address stated is:

There are a few key changes to LFD testing for pharmacy teams this week – detailed information is included in the links below, but we know how busy you are so to summarise

As we approach the festive period, we wanted to thank pharmacy teams for your hard work in the recent period of high demand. The community pharmacy network is a vital part of our public health response to COVID-19

Please note as of the 1st December 2021, Senna 7.5mg/5ml oral solution will be changed to Sennoside 7.5mg/5ml oral solution in Part 7b of the Scottish Drug Tariff.

We have taken a great deal of your feedback over the last few days and understand that the current operation of the LFD collect service is unduly disrupting the delivery of your core services in some areas…

Following recent announcements around restrictions as a result of the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, there has been some confusion over the self-isolation rules for health and social care workers.

Following on from this week’s videos from Harry and Matt, we can now confirm that each pharmacy is authorised to order 1 box of kits each day

With the announcement today from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon we are currently looking at several areas to ensure that the community pharmacy workforce can continue to provide their essential services.

CPS has co-signed, along with other pharmacy bodies in Scotland, a letter highlighting the issue of wellbeing across the profession. This is available to community pharmacy team members throughout Scotland.

Our colleagues at NES have asked us to pass on the following message to contractors who are currently supporting Foundation Year (previously pre-reg) trainees.

As part of a move to a regional formulary review process in the East of Scotland, both NHS Lothian and NHS Borders will very shortly inform contractors that the dose of Flucloxacillin permitted

Our colleagues at Strathclyde University are undertaking research into what supports people to remain active and independent in later life and as a result, stay as healthy as possible.

Our colleagues in Primary Care have highlighted the attached website as a source of information for professionals and patients which you may find useful in your practice, and Pharmacy First and First Plus in particular.

From the 10th January 2022, we will be asking our eligible Independent Pharmacy Owner members to seek nomination for their local Community Pharmacy Health Board Committee.

Circular PCA(P)(2021)5 set out the arrangements for the settlement for pharmaceutical services for the period 2020-21, including for NHS Pharmacy First Scotland.

Please be aware that further to the change in product used for the LFT Kit Supply to the public, detailed in PCA(P) (2021) 13

This circular provides NHS Boards, prescribers and community pharmacy contractors with an update on progress and developments with regard to the support of the electronic transfer of prescriptions (ETP) via the Acute Medication Service (AMS)