Key service requirements

Key points from the Community Pharmacy Advanced Service Specification: NHS Pharmacy First Service:

• Pharmacy contractors should notify NHS England that they intend to provide Pharmacy First by completing the electronic registration declaration via the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) Manage Your Service (MYS) portal
• Pharmacies must have a consultation room that will be used to provide the service. It must be used for any face-to-face consultations
• An NHS assured IT system which meets the minimum digital requirements of the service and includes an API to facilitate transfer of data into the NHSBSA MYS portal must be used.

When choosing an IT supplier, contractors should refer to the NHS CPCS IT Buyers Guide.

• Remote consultations are permitted for all clinical pathways except otitis media. Contractors must ensure that staff can communicate confidentially with patients by telephone or a live audio or video link. Where clinical examination is required, such as for a rash or inspection of urine, the quality of the video consultation must allow for appropriate examination – see NHS England guidance
• Pharmacies must have a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the service. The SOP must include a process for escalation of any clinical and non-clinical issues identified
• Pharmacy contractors must ensure that all pharmacy staff involved in the provision of the service are familiar with and adhere to the SOP
• Pharmacies must have available signposting details, details for changing the pharmacy’s DoS profile, contact details for local out-of-hours and urgent care providers, and contact details of the local commissioner of the service (if applicable)
• A pharmacy must provide all elements of the service and ensure it is available throughout its opening hours. The only exception is that distance selling pharmacies (DSPs) cannot provide the clinical pathway consultation for otitis media
• Where ear examinations are performed, pharmacists must use an otoscope. Guidance on selecting an otoscope can be found in Annex C of the service specification.