Updates have been made to the Pharmaceutical Services (Advanced and Enhanced Services and Emergency Declaration) Directions 2020 to support developments in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Firstly, the declaration of an emergency requiring the flexible provision of pharmaceutical services, which was introduced to help maintain pharmacy services during the COVID-19 outbreak, has been further extended to 31st March 2021. Learn more about the flexible provision of services on our COVID-19 network resilience page.

Secondly, it introduces the necessary legal framework for a Coronavirus Testing Service and a Coronavirus Vaccination Service, under the ‘Enhanced Service’ part of the NHS pharmacy contract. As Enhanced Services, the rollout of these services will be managed at a local level, although PSNC is supporting this work.

Further details can be found on the NHSBSA website.