Community Pharmacy England (CPE) - News updates

Pharmacy teams should be aware that all strengths of Subutex® and Suboxone® tablets have been discontinued. The manufacturer, Indivior, is no longer supplying these products in the UK therefore, they are no longer available for community pharmacies to order. Please note that if a prescriber has issued a branded prescription for any strength of Subutex®, [...] The post Discontinuation of Subutex® and Suboxone® tablets appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

This article tackles some of the misconceptions around rejecting Pharmacy First referrals and aims to bust myths to increase understanding of the service. We have previously published a series of articles on myth busting covering a variety of aspects of Pharmacy First. All of these myths can be viewed on our Pharmacy First service – [...] The post Pharmacy First myth busting: To reject or not to reject? appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Co-codamol 30mg/500mg tablets. MSN/2026/001 Tier 3 – High impact Date of issue: 12 January 2026 Co-codamol 30mg/500mg tablets will be in limited supply from early February until early June 2026. Paracetamol 500mg tablets remain available and can support a full uplift [...] The post Medicine Supply Notification: Co-codamol 30mg/500mg tablets appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

Community Pharmacy England will be holding a webinar in collaboration with NHS England about the new Seasonal Vaccination Service on Wednesday 21st January at 7.30pm. The new Advanced service covers the provision of both seasonal vaccinations (COVID-19 and adult flu) in community pharmacy for the 2026/27 season. On the night David Onuoha, Service Development Manager and [...] The post Seasonal Vaccination Service 2026/27 – webinar appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed that prescriptions for Cleen Ready-to-use 133ml enema (Sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate 18.1% / Disodium hydrogen phosphate dodecahydrate 8% 133ml enema) dispensed in November and December 2025 will be correctly reimbursed based on its increased NHS list price which had not been reflected in the published [...] The post Cleen Ready-to-use enema Drug Tariff price adjustment – November and December 2025 appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the NHS have launched a new campaign encouraging all adults to take the new NHS Healthy Choices Quiz. This health and wellbeing quiz aims to empower adults to take control of their health by making small changes day to day. The quiz, which takes around 5 [...] The post New NHS Healthy Choices Quiz appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

Pharmacy owners have until 3rd February 2026 to start the Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS) Antimicrobial Stewardship – Pharmacy First consultations – Clinical Audit. The audit, which is a quality criterion in the Patient safety domain of the 2025/26 PQS, requires pharmacy owners to complete a clinical audit focused on the clinical advice and consultations provided to patients [...] The post PQS: Have you started your AMS Pharmacy First audit? appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

Daily Express There have been media reports today in the Daily Express highlighting growing pharmacy pressures and closures across England and Wales. Figures from the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) indicate hundreds of pharmacies have closed, with warnings that recent tax and cost pressures are forcing many out of business. Rachel Reeves accused of pushing pharmacies [...] The post Pharmacy pressures: tax rises are driving closures across the country appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

The MHRA has reviewed the warnings regarding addiction, dependence, withdrawal, and tolerance for gabapentin, pregabalin, benzodiazepines, and z-drugs. The findings (detailed in the Public Assessment Report) were that it was necessary to strengthen these warnings in the product information and on packaging to better inform healthcare professionals and patients of these known risks. Advice for [...] The post MHRA Drug Safety Update: Improving Information Supplied with Gabapentinoids (Pregabalin/Gabapentin), Benzodiazepines and Z-Drugs appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

Trade press From March 2026, a new Category will be introduced to Part VIIIA of the Drug Tariff as part of a series of drug reimbursement reforms previously proposed by the Department of Heath and Social Care (DHSC). Products will begin to move into Category H, from Category C, in a phased approach. Introduction of [...] The post Drug Tariff Category H announcement appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.