Part VIC Redetermination (PDF: 286KB)
From 1 December 2023, the NHS Community Pharmacy Hypertension Case-Finding Advanced Service will relaunch and the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS) will expand to include the initiation of oral contraception. The changes to the PCS service are detailed in the Part VIC Drug Tariff redetermination and directions.
NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service Directions 2023 (PDF: 177KB)
An updated Service Specification and Patient Group Directions (PGDs) for Combined Oral Contraceptives (COC) and Progesterone Only Pills (POP) have been published on the NHS England website.
NHS England - NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service
In addition, the Part VIC redetermination includes details of the upcoming NHS Pharmacy First Service and changes to the Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS). The service specification for the new service and the Clinical Pathways have been published on the NHS England website.
NHS England - Community Pharmacy advanced service specification: NHS Pharmacy First Service
The final versions of the PGDs and the Treatment Protocol are available on the NHS England website.
Disclaimer: Due to the recent discontinuation of Erythromycin 500mg/5ml sugar-free suspension, it is no longer listed in the Drug Tariff. If contractors have any residual stock, this product should not be supplied and it will be removed from updated versions of the relevant PGDs in due course. The non-SF version of the 500mg/5ml Erythromycin suspension remains available and can be supplied as treatment where clinically appropriate.
The NHS Pharmacy First Service Directions can be found here and will be reflected in the Drug Tariff from February 2024.
NHS Pharmacy First Service Directions
There will be a period of transition from existing arrangements to the new services which is detailed in the Part VIC redetermination. Specifications have been included to support contractors during the transition from the existing PCS Tier 1 and CPCS service.
NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service - Tier 1 - Service Specification (PDF: 261KB)
Community Pharmacist Consultation Service – Service Specification
This information was from December 2023. Visit our NHS Pharmacy First webpage for the latest information.