Payments to Essential Small Pharmacies
Published: 23/08/23
The total Establishment Payment plus Dispensing Pool Payment plus Pharmaceutical Needs Weighting Payment made to an Essential Small Pharmacy (ESP) each month, are subject to a guarantee minimum target income of £4,412 for full-time contractors.
Where an ESP opens less than 30 hours, the guaranteed proportion of £4,412 is calculated as follows:
| Hours Contractor Open | % of Single Flat rate Payment |
|---|---|
| >5 | 60% |
| >10 | 75% |
| >15 | 85% |
| >20 | 90% |
| >25 | 95% |
| >30 | 100% |
The total of the Establishment Payment plus Dispensing Pool plus Pharmaceutical Needs Weighting Payment to be made to an ESP each month will be calculated as for all other contractors. If the calculated value is less than the level of the guaranteed minimum payment, a top-up – the Essential Small Pharmacy Allowance (ESPA) – of the shortfall will be paid for the month(s) concerned.
Eligibility for the ESP requires a contractor to be included on the register of ESP held by their NHS Board. Contractors taking over an existing ESP must have their continued inclusion in the ESP register approved by the Health Board.
Advance payments are made to support contractor cashflow while actual payment for the prescriptions submitted is calculated.