Thursday 22nd May 2025   

Welcome to your weekly injection of local and national pharmacy news. As always, if you have any feedback or comments, please contact us by email at admin@cpdevon.org.uk.

On Sunday 14th September 2025 Community Pharmacy Devon will be holding its first ever Community Pharmacy Conference. The venue is confirmed as the Exeter Racecourse just off the A38 at Exeter; timing will be 9.00am to 4.30pm. Much more detail to follow but we hope to see many of you there!

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) surveillance data indicates that circulation of influenza in the community has returned to baseline levels.

In accordance with NICE guidance and Schedule 2 to the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of drugs etc.) Regulations 2004), commonly known as the Grey List or Selected List Scheme (SLS):

• GPs and other prescribers working in primary care should no longer prescribe antiviral medicines (including neuraminidase inhibitors) for the prophylaxis and treatment of influenza on an FP10 prescription form.
• Community pharmacists should no longer supply antiviral medicines in primary care on presentation of an FP10 prescription form.

From June intermediary banding is being added to Pharmacy First. This will mean anyone achieving 20-29 clinical pathways will receive £500 and 30+ will still get the £1000. Pharmacy owners will also need to be registered for the Hypertension Case Finding Service and the Pharmacy Contraception Service to qualify.

Following an update to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance, the following patient cohorts are no longer eligible to receive free LFD tests through the service:

• People aged 85 years and over
• People with end-stage heart failure who have a long-term ventricular assistance device
• People on the organ transplant waiting list
• People resident in a care home who are aged 70 years and over
• People resident in a care home who have a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or more
• People resident in a care home who have diabetes
• People resident in a care home who have heart failure
• People currently in a hospital who are aged 70 years and over
• People currently in a hospital who have a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or more
• People currently in a hospital who have diabetes
• People currently in a hospital who have heart failure

The Community Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Programme 2025 has been launched. This programme will support Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians (PTPTs) to be employed and complete their 24-month apprenticeship training within a community pharmacy setting. Upon completion of training and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) the registered pharmacy technicians will be able to utilise their expertise and knowledge to support community pharmacies in various ways, including contributing to the delivery of pharmacy services and broader healthcare reforms.

Application for funding is through an expression of interest (EoI) submitted via an online application form. The application window opened on Monday 19 May 2025 and runs until Sunday 15 June 2025. A guidance document has been produced to support you competing an application. This and further information can be found on the website.

If you have a positive news story to share with us please send it to admin@cpdevon.org.uk and it will be featured in an upcoming edition of the review. If featured, you will also win a surprise gift for you and your team up to the value of £25!

Click the name you need to email them directly: