Weekly eNewsletter 14th March 2024

Latest NewseNewsletter
Written By Robbie Collins

The Community Pharmacy Scotland eNewsletter for Thursday 14th March 2024 has now been released.

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Latest eNewsletter
NHS 24 – Clarification on Clinical Contact Records and Emergency Supply Requests by NHS 24 Prescribers
NHS 24 – Clarification on Clinical Contact Records and Emergency Supply Requests by NHS 24 Prescribers

Following some feedback from the community pharmacy network, our colleagues at NHS 24 have pulled together the attached summary to explain the two main types of eMail communication that they regularly send out to pharmacy teams in support of patients.

My Quit Journey: Week Two with the Varenicline Service 
My Quit Journey: Week Two with the Varenicline Service 

Join me Graham Le Tissier for week two of my quit journey using the Varenicline service.

Care Reform (Scotland) Bill Passes In Scotland: What Does This Mean for Community Pharmacy?
Care Reform (Scotland) Bill Passes In Scotland: What Does This Mean for Community Pharmacy?

Care Reform Bill passed in Scotland, enabling digital care records and paving the way for community pharmacy access to patient information.

Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report for 2024-25
Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report for 2024-25

Scotland’s CMO report highlights prevention and wellbeing. CPS urges greater role for community pharmacy in future health strategy.

PCA(P)(2025)14 - Extension to Serious Shortage Protocols for Estradot® (estradiol) patches
PCA(P)(2025)14 - Extension to Serious Shortage Protocols for Estradot® (estradiol) patches

SSPs for Estradot® HRT patches extended to 10 Oct 2025. Community pharmacy contractors are advised to note the updated expiry date.

Medicines Care and Review (MCR) Ready Reckoner
Medicines Care and Review (MCR) Ready Reckoner

This week’s MCR Ready Reckoner has been updated and is now available to download or you can view it via the App.

PCA(P)(2025)13 - Amendments to the Part 11 Discount Clawback Scale
PCA(P)(2025)13 - Amendments to the Part 11 Discount Clawback Scale

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

CPS Charity Golf Day Raises Over £8,700 for Held In Our Hearts
CPS Charity Golf Day Raises Over £8,700 for Held In Our Hearts

Community Pharmacy Scotland’s 10th Annual Charity Golf Day was a swinging success, raising an incredible £8,732 for our 2025 charity partner, Held In Our Hearts.

My Quit Journey: Day One with the Varenicline Service
My Quit Journey: Day One with the Varenicline Service

Join our very own Graham Le Tissier as he shares his personal journey to quit smoking with the help of the updated Varenicline Service.

Recognising Tick Bites and Early Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Recognising Tick Bites and Early Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Our colleagues at LDUK have put together the following information to help raise awareness of Lyme Disease amongst community pharmacy health professionals.

PCA(P)(2025)12 - Naloxone Emergency Supply Service Update
PCA(P)(2025)12 - Naloxone Emergency Supply Service Update

New naloxone product added to emergency supply service. Updated service specification now available for community pharmacy teams.

Prescription Collection Courier Service: 5th June 2025
Prescription Collection Courier Service: 5th June 2025

Your next courier collection is scheduled for Thursday, June 5th, 2025. We have produced the following guidelines for your prescription bag submissions.

Removed Lines from Parts 2, 3 & 4 of the SDT as of 1st July 2025
Removed Lines from Parts 2, 3 & 4 of the SDT as of 1st July 2025

We would like to make you aware next month there will be several removed lines from Parts of the Scottish Drug Tariff – Part 2 Dressings, Part 3 Appliances & Part 4 Elastic Hosiery:

PCA(P)(2025)11 - SSPs Extended for Estradot® and Creon® Capsules
PCA(P)(2025)11 - SSPs Extended for Estradot® and Creon® Capsules

SSPs for Estradot® and Creon® extended. Pharmacists advised of new expiry dates: 6 June 2025 for Estradot®, 21 Nov 2025 for Creon® capsules.

June 2025 Part 7 Publishing
June 2025 Part 7 Publishing

Due to the date on which the 1st of June falls the June Part 7 file will be published slightly later than the 1st with the possibility of this being early into next week.

Guidance on Puberty Blockers for Prescribers & Dispensers
Guidance on Puberty Blockers for Prescribers & Dispensers

The Scottish Government has issued updated guidance on the supply of puberty blockers for those under 18. Read now to ensure you’re up to date.

DPDP Community Pharmacy Engagement Research
DPDP Community Pharmacy Engagement Research

Nicola Jarvie seeks pharmacists for focus groups on digital prescribing as part of NHS Scotland’s community pharmacy engagement research.

PCA(P)(2025)10 - Updated Men B Paracetamol Service Spec
PCA(P)(2025)10 - Updated Men B Paracetamol Service Spec

Updated guidance for pharmacy provision of prophylactic paracetamol after MenB and other childhood vaccines, plus supporting clinical info.

Digital Prescribing And Dispensing Pathways Programme Benefits Survey
Digital Prescribing And Dispensing Pathways Programme Benefits Survey

In order to support our work with the Digital Prescribing and Dispensing Programme (DPDP), we would appreciate it if you are able to provide us some estimates for your pharmacy

Seasonal Influenza: Letter From The CMO
Seasonal Influenza: Letter From The CMO

The Chief Medical Officer has asked us to share the following advice with the network: Community pharmacists should not supply antiviral medicines in primary care on presentation of a GP10 prescription form.

Pharmacy Technicians Will Require PVG Membership from April 2025
Pharmacy Technicians Will Require PVG Membership from April 2025

We can now confirm that Pharmacy Technicians will be included under the updated definition of ‘regulated roles’ and will therefore require PVG Scheme membership from 1st April 2025.

CPS Hosts First Council Session of 25 | 28 Term
CPS Hosts First Council Session of 25 | 28 Term

Yesterday (14 May 2025), Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) welcomed members to the first Council session of the 2025 - 2028 term.

Prescription Collection Courier Service: 22nd May 2025
Prescription Collection Courier Service: 22nd May 2025

Your next courier collection is scheduled for Thursday, May 22nd, 2025. We have produced the following guidelines for your prescription bag submissions.

Programme for Government 2025-2026
Programme for Government 2025-2026

The First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, announced this week the Programme for Government for 2025/26. He stated that "this programme is focused on delivery and hope. Delivery in response to the challenges we know people are facing in their everyday lives.

PCA(P)(2025)09: SSP Extensions for Estradot Patches and Cefalexin 125mg-5ml
PCA(P)(2025)09: SSP Extensions for Estradot Patches and Cefalexin 125mg-5ml

This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors that the four UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Estradot® (estradiol) transdermal patches, a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) product, due to expire on 2 May 2025 have been extended.

Lyme Disease PHS Poster Campaign
Lyme Disease PHS Poster Campaign

The current Public Health Scotland poster campaign topic is Lyme Disease. The campaign aims to increase awareness of Lyme disease; how it is transmitted (via ticks) and vital signs and symptoms to look out for. Posters should be displayed within your pharmacy.

Varenicline Claiming for Accurate Reimbursement
Varenicline Claiming for Accurate Reimbursement

This article includes guidance around the process of submitting claims for the generic version of Varenicline. This applies to dispensing against prescriptions and the use of the newly re-launched PGD.

Adjusted Prices Review and Part 7 Changes
Adjusted Prices Review and Part 7 Changes

As a part of our work with the Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland, we regularly raise lines of concern and work to secure adjusted prices for these.

Prescription Collection Courier Service: 8th May 2025
Prescription Collection Courier Service: 8th May 2025

Your next courier collection is scheduled for Thursday, May 8th, 2025. We have produced the following guidelines for your prescription bag submissions.

Closed for May Bank Holiday
Closed for May Bank Holiday

We will be closed for the the bank holiday on Monday the 5th May 2025.

Robbie Collins

Digital Communications Officer

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