A change in the law has allowed pharmacy technicians to carry out blood pressure checks as part of the hypertension case-finding and smoking cessation services.

Amendments to the Pharmaceutical Services (Advanced and Enhanced Services) (Amendment) (England) Directions 2023 under the National Health Service Act 2006 came into force on April 1 and applies to England.

The PSNC said the Drug Tariff has been amended to reflect the change and insisted it would update contractors once the service specifications for both services, which are going through NHS England’s publication process, are published.

The Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK said it was “pleased to see pharmacy technicians recognised as registered healthcare professionals able to safely deliver pharmacy services.”