Thursday 10th September 2026

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.

Please follow this link for the September edition of the Deadline Tracker.

As part of the agreed Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) arrangements for 2026/27, independent prescribing will be incorporated into community pharmacy services from autumn 2026, extending both the Pharmacy First Service and the Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS).

The changes will enable qualified community pharmacist prescribers to play a greater clinical role in patient care by prescribing within the existing Pharmacy First clinical pathways and the Pharmacy Contraception Service and delivering up to five new Pharmacy First prescribing-only pathways, which are currently proposed to include:

• bacterial conjunctivitis,
• allergic conjunctivitis,
• oral thrush,
• skin infections and
• respiratory tract infections

These new pathways will be subject to approval by a clinical reference group before implementation. Consultations carried out under these pathways will contribute towards the monthly Pharmacy First clinical pathway activity requirements.

Further details on service specifications, pathway development and implementation arrangements are expected ahead of the planned autumn 2026 launch.

Further information available here.

Newly qualified, early career pharmacist prescribers in their first year of post-registration practice can register to join the Pharmacist Enhanced Practice Pathway (PEPP) pilot from today.

To find out more visit the CPPE website.

What is the Pharmacist Enhanced Practice Pathway pilot

NHS England is working collaboratively with the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) and the Royal College of Pharmacy to develop a new education and training pathway for newly qualified, early career pharmacist prescribers, registering from summer 2026. The Pathway aims to create consistent and equitable training and support for newly qualified, early career pharmacist prescribers across all sectors in patient-facing roles.

What’s involved

Delivered by CPPE, the Pharmacist Enhanced Practice Pathway pilot offers access to NHS England funded learning modules, workshops and education support for up to 1200 learners across all sectors. This includes 900 places for learners with employer-provided educational supervision and up to 300 CPPE-supported places for learners without access to an employer educational supervisor. Learners enrolling on the pathway will also gain access to an e-portfolio mapped to the Royal College of Pharmacy Enhanced Curriculum.

Learners, supervisors and employers involved in the pilot will also be invited to help shape future pathways. We have commissioned The University of Manchester Centre for Pharmacy Workforce Studies to undertake an evaluation of the pilot pathway, beginning in September 2026. The evaluation will include capturing feedback from those involved.

How to apply

Applications to the Pharmacist Enhanced Practice Pathway pilot opened today (1 September 2026). To find out more and to submit an application visit the CPPE website

There will be another opportunity to apply in January 2027.

Find out more and keep in touch

·       Visit the Pharmacist Enhanced Practice Pathway website

·       To find out more visit the CPPE website or email: newlyqualified@cppe.ac.uk

·       Email the WT&E National Pharmacy team: england.pharmacyteam@nhs.net

·       Join the NHS Futures forum: https://future.nhs.uk/PharmacyWorkforceDevelopment 

The Community Pharmacy Workforce Survey 2026 will open for all NHS community pharmacy contractors on Monday 14 September 2026.

The NHS Business Service Authority will contact all NHS pharmacy contract holders when the survey is live with information on how to complete the survey and the deadline. Ahead of the survey launch, we encourage contract holders to review their workforce records and identify the information they will need to complete their workforce survey.

The role of pharmacy professionals is evolving. As more pharmacists become Independent Prescribers and community pharmacies expand prescribing services, clinical judgement, consultation skills and confidence in managing uncertainty are becoming increasingly important.

The Respiratory tract infections prescribing perspectives programme has been designed to support pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and trainee pharmacists wherever they are on this journey. Whether you're already prescribing, working within a respiratory service, supporting prescribing or considering prescribing in the future, the programme helps you develop a structured approach to safe, person-centred care.

Participants begin with a self-assessment framework to reflect on their current knowledge and identify areas for development. This is followed by a tailored e-course, a face-to-face workshop, post-workshop activities and an optional webinar panel discussion.

By the end of the programme, learners will be able to structure consultations, identify red flags, improve clinical record documentation, strengthen person-centred care and develop peer networks to support continued professional development.

Workshops begin in October and are available to book now.

Teams should have received an email 9th September from the NHS South West Commissioning Team sharing some of the key details of closures, if you have not seen this please check your inbox.

We have attached a copy of the closure form on our 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!

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