Thursday 4th December 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.

The latest edition of the deadline tracker can be found here.

CPE have produced an FAQ document on the hub and spoke regulation changes, this can be found here.

On this page you will see why the changes do not apply to same legal entity (intracompany) arrangements.

Q. Why do these requirements only apply to hub and spoke arrangements between different retail pharmacy businesses, not intracompany arrangements?

There are several reasons:
First, section 10 of the Medicines Act 1968 has long permitted hub and spoke dispensing within the same retail pharmacy business (intra-company).
Second, intra-company hub and spoke arrangements do not involve subcontracting of any part of the Essential dispensing service. This is carried out by the listed contractor, and supplies to patients are made from the contractor.
Third, there are additional issues and risks associated with (and corresponding measures and controls required for) a joint dispensing process between different legal entities, which are addressed in the new HMR and PLPS regulations, and the GPhC guidance on hub and spoke
dispensing.

People across Devon are being encouraged to take simple steps to reduce their risk of falling, thanks to an improved online platform designed to support healthy ageing and help people stay active and independent for longer.

Devon’s Steady On Your Feet website offers free, trusted advice and personalised support for older adults, their families and carers. Whether they want to improve their balance, make their home safer, or learn more about local support, the website is here to help.

The website includes a quick self-assessment tool, personalised action plans, and easy-to-follow advice covering common causes of falls such as poor balance, dizziness, medication or changes in memory. Users can also find information, links and signposts to support services in their area.

The platform is part of a collaborative falls prevention initiative led by One Devon, the NHS Royal Devon University Healthcare Trust, with support from voluntary and community partners.

Attached here is the link to a google drive that contains content for display on digital screens in pharmacies. Thank you for your support!

This document outlines details of an opportunity to take part in a fully funded leadership programme.

The programme offers nationally consistent, entry-level leadership training for practice managers, nurses, PCN managers, community pharmacists and early-career GPs.

Learn about scabies, slapped cheek syndrome and scarlet fever in children with the new Virtual Outcomes training course (free to all Devon pharmacists and their teams).

Do you know that you should apply permethrin cream to the soles of the feet last?

Do you know that 50-60% of people in the UK have had slapped cheek syndrome?

Do you know that scarlet fever is a notifiable disease?

Do you know if children can go to school when they have slapped cheek syndrome?

Community pharmacy Devon would like to give a special shout out to all contractors in Devon who have signed up and delivered the national services! See below for more detail:

Pharmacy First

Since October 2024 Devon Pharmacies have completed over 55,000 clinical pathway consultations.

Hypertension case finding

Since October 2024 Devon Pharmacies have supported over 66,000 patients with clinic readings and ABPMs.

Contraception

Since October 2024 Devon Pharmacies have completed over 22,000 Contraception interactions. 

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!

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