PSNC has published a suite of new guidance to assist community pharmacy contractors with completing the Data Security and Protection Toolkit for 2020/21. The Toolkit must be completed by 30th June 2021 but it is recommended to be completed as soon as possible.

The deadline for the 2020/21 Toolkit submission has been extended from the usual 31st March cut-off as part of measures designed to address contractor workload pressures during the COVID-19 pandemic. PSNC has collaborated with NHS Digital to keep the workload manageable but the data security protections appropriate.

Detailed guidance is available:

See also briefings updated in 2021:

• The national data opt-out system for patients and how to complete the DSPTK opt-out question
• Preparing for Windows 10 end-of-life cycles
• Ten steps to help improve data and cyber security

PMR suppliers may soon provide new guidance for the updated technical questions.

First steps towards completion

PSNC recommends that contractors log in to the Toolkit now, look through our guidance documents – starting with the Toolkit completion: Overview: Five steps guide and, time allowing, begin to fill in the Toolkit.

Other toolkit resources and support

Some of the Toolkit guidance references the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the PSNC guidance, workbook and staff training.

Pharmacies can obtain support with queries regarding the Toolkit from the Exeter Helpdesk (exeter.helpdesk@nhs.net or 0300 3034034). The Exeter Helpdesk will be able to support pharmacies with the day-to-day administration of their account on the Toolkit, for example re-setting forgotten passwords and other technical support.

The final deadline for completing the mandatory questions was re-scheduled from March 31st 2020 to September 30th 2020.

April 2021 update: Related guidance has been superceded and the older version of the Toolkit can no longer be published

COVID-19 update: It has been agreed that no action will be taken against contractors who have not completed the Data Security and Protection toolkit for 2019/20, provided they are working to complete the toolkit for 2020/21.

2019/20 Toolkit webinar
In 2020, PSNC and NHS Digital presented a webinar to support Toolkit completion. An on-demand version of the webinar is available via the link above.

The Toolkit includes some technical questions which you may need the assistance of your PMR supplier to answer. Some PMR suppliers will provide information to support your completion of the technical questions via a guidance document or via their helpdesk.

Alternatively, some PMR suppliers have chosen to utilise the Toolkit PMR feature. This feature involves your PMR supplier setting up an email address (e.g. igsupport@pmr.com) that they share with customers and this is then entered by the contractor within the ‘Admin’>’User List’ section of the Toolkit (the email address can be added as a ‘Member’). This then allows information supplied by your PMR supplier to be bulk-inserted for the mandatory technical questions within the Toolkit.

The bulk upload of information is likely to be at a pre-set time which your PMR supplier will advise you of. Once the information has been uploaded, you will be able to add or amend the answers entered by your PMR supplier if necessary. Your supplier, as a ‘Member’ within the Toolkit, will technically be able to see your answers to all the questions.

The Toolkit contains functionality to allow pharmacy contractors with three or more pharmacies to complete a bulk submission of assessments on behalf of its branches. If this functionality is of interest to a contractor, they should first read:

Toolkit completion: Using the Data Security and Protection Toolkit’s HQ batch submission feature – step-by-step guide

Checking pharmacies linked to HQ code using ODS portal factsheet

These documents explain how to request the feature is set-up for you.

When you log in to the Toolkit as an HQ organisation (with HQ ODS code), you will be able to complete your assessment, review your list of branches and publish your Toolkit assessment for your branches. Your HQ’s branch list has been populated from data held by the ODS team.  If your list is not accurate, please raise a support call with the Exeter Helpdesk.

Related topics from within PSNC’s Data Security and IG hub are:

• Access control methods (e.g. passwords)
• Antivirus
• Cyber and technical security advice about how to prevent and deal with data and cyber issues
• Data handling, record keeping and disposal
• Data quality
• DSPTK FAQs
• DSPTK HQ batch submission feature (step-by-step guide)
• DSPTK HQ batch submission feature (factsheet)
• GDPR and workbook
• Fax usage
• Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) good practices for pharmacy
• Mobile messaging
• Mobile device usage and ‘bring your own device’ policy
• National data opt-out system for patients (for data processing for planning/research)
• NHS login – an authentication system for patients (used by NHS App and other apps) to reduce the number of logins/accounts needed by patients
• NHS Identity (authentication for health and care professionals)
• Opt-out
• Roles (e.g. IG lead)
• Routers
• Smartcards
• System settings and IT updates 
• Templates
• Ten steps to help improve data and cyber security within your pharmacy (factsheet)
• Training
• Video conferencing and video consultations
• Windows 10 versions end-of-support transition guidance