We have been made aware of an issue with a particular version of the "Vision" GP prescribing system that is used in some (but not all) sites using the software in Scotland.

For the attention of Community Pharmacy (CP) Independent Prescriber (IP) Employee Pharmacists on Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) / NHS Education for Scotland (NES) Funded Places from 2021.

Our colleagues at NES have shared this useful information for any CPs starting their IP Training or planning to undertake their IP Training in the future.

Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) invites you to take part in our 2024 Communication Survey. Your feedback is essential in helping us improve our services.

In this week’s roundup... Sexual and reproductive health survey, updated and digitised Disclosure of rape or sexual assault (SARCS) guidance, the new scanning centre is now fully operational at the Gyle, and your next prescription collection date is the Thursday 4th July 2024.

Your next Parcelforce prescription collection is coming up on Thursday, 4th July 2024.

Researchers from Edinburgh University and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) have produced a Scottish Government-funded survey for community pharmacists about their practice around SRH in the community pharmacy.

This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors that the two UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Clarithromycin antibiotic products due to expire on 21 June 2024 have now been extended until Friday 19 July 2024.

The Community Pharmacy Scotland Newsletter has now been released. If you qualify as an Associate Member and you would like the eNewsletter sent directly to your inbox every Thursday at 6:15pm, then please sign up.

The new scanning centre is now fully operational at the Gyle now, of which your Parcel Force bags are pre-labelled for.

CP IPs and trainees can check certificate details on TURAS. Details on the attachment below.

Our colleagues at the Scottish Government have asked us to disseminate the following information to pharmacy teams:

The following are the Top Three items currently under discussion and review by your CPS Board. There is no specific detail, yet, as these are currently “works in progress”. Further detail will follow as available.

As of the 13th June 2024, the NHS Inform advice on Covid-19 has been updated. This was informed by a review from Public Health Scotland and Scottish Government clinicians. Based on this review, it was recommended that the advice to self-isolate for five days following a positive Covid-19 test should be removed from guidance.

Your next Parcelforce prescription collection is coming up on Thursday, 20th June 2024.

Here is the detail for a Podiatry Training which is offered for any community pharmacists who would like to attend. Details of how to apply to the organiser are in the invitation. CPS is supporting, but not sponsoring the event.

The University of Glasgow has launched a citizen science initiative for reporting mosquito sightings across Scotland. This aims to map mosquito distribution and species variety. Visit the reporting portal at www.mosquito-scotland.com. The blog post includes details on supporting the initiative with flyers, social media infographics, and shareable tweets. Your support in promoting this project is appreciated.

NSS have confirmed that the final cumulative statements have all been sent to contractors detailing information about payments received by contractors during the nDCVP implementation and resultant estimated payment process.

The Community Pharmacy Scotland Newsletter has now been released. If you qualify as an Associate Member and you would like the eNewsletter sent directly to your inbox every Thursday at 6:15pm, then please sign up.

Our colleagues at NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) have written to Independent Pharmacy Contractors to inform them about some issues that have arisen during the switchover to SWAN2.