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.

This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors that the UK-wide active Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Utrogestan® (micronised progesterone) 100mg capsules

Month 1 advance = (no. of days open/31) x £18,000

Patient Group Directions (PGDs) that are to be added to the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

This circular sets out to community pharmacy contractors and NHS Boards the details of the community pharmacy funding arrangement 2023/24

HMRC have issued information that their specific occupational guidance on locum pharmacist (ESM4270 and ESM2063) has been withdrawn with effect from 30th June 2023. 

The removal is because updates to HMRC’s general Employment Status Manual and the availability of the Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool have removed the need for their occupation-specific guidance. 

Further information is available in the link to the HMRC Employer Bulletin for June 2023, which mentions the removal of the locum pharmacist guidance: June 2023 issue of the Employer Bulletin - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

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

Two of the UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Clarithromycin antibiotic products due to expire on 21 July 2023 have now been extended

The UK-wide active Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Progynova® (estradiol) TS 100 microgram patches, a hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

This Circular advises of changes to the Scottish Drug Tariff effective from 1 May 2023 in respect of reimbursement of costs borne by community pharmacy contractors when dispensing NHS prescriptions for part 7 medicines.

A new naloxone service to be implemented in community pharmacies later this year, preparation work that will be required and a payment for associated costs.

To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Utrogestan® (micronised progesterone) 100mg capsules, from 19 May 2023 to 18 August 2023.

This Circular provides an updated Gluten Free Food Prescribable Product List to be used in conjunction with the community pharmacy Gluten Free Food Service (GFFS).

This Circular advises NHS Boards and community pharmacy contractors that ten of the UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for antibiotics products due to expire on 28 April 2023 have now been extended.

This Circular advises NHS Boards and community pharmacy contractors of the new hormone replacement therapy Pre-Payment Certificates that have been introduced in NHS England in April 2023.

This Circular advises of changes in the Drug Tariff effective for dispensing 1 May 2023 in respect of reimbursement of costs borne by community pharmacy contractors when dispensing NHS prescriptions for specialist preparations and imported unlicensed medicines listed in Part 7S.

To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Estradot® (Estradiol hemihydrate) 75 micrograms / 24 hours patch, from 13 March 2023 to 5 May 2023.

This Circular advises NHS Boards and community pharmacy contractors that eight of the UK-wide Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Phenoxymethylpenicillin antibiotic products (SSPs 040-047) due to expire on 31 March 2023 have been extended until Friday 28 April 2023.

To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Progynova® (Estradiol as hemihydrate) TS 100 microgram patch, from 28 March 2023 to 9 June 2023.

To advise of a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Paracetamol suppositories 240mg, from 13 March 2023 to 5 May 2023.