Community Pharmacy England (CPE) - News updates

Pharmacy owners have until the end of Tuesday 31st March 2026 to have their evidence to demonstrate meeting the 2025/26 Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS) domains that they have claimed for. Pharmacy owners were required to complete a PQS declaration between 9am on 2nd February 2026 and 11.59pm on 27th February 2026. However, pharmacy owners have [...] The post PQS: 31st March deadline approaches appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has today (24/03/2026) confirmed the following list of price concessions for March 2026: Drug Pack size Price concession Adapalene 0.1% cream 45 £18.26 Adapalene 0.1% gel 45 £18.26 Alfuzosin 2.5mg tablets 60 £6.67 Amlodipine 2.5mg tablets 28 £3.88 Aripiprazole 15mg tablets 28 £1.02 Aspirin 75mg dispersible tablets 28 [...] The post March 2026 Price Concessions 2nd Update appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) – supported by Community Pharmacy England, charities and patient groups – is calling on the Government to make headway in introducing community pharmacist flexibilities and addressing reimbursement issues that can delay access to medicines. Medicines Shortages: One Year On assesses progress on supply issues since the launch of the RPS’s [...] The post Call for swift movement on flexibilities and reimbursement changes to tackle supply issues appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

MHRA Class 2 Medicines Recall: Hibiwash® 500ml (Regent Medical Limited / Mölnlycke Health Care) Drug alert number: EL(26)A/15 Date issued: 23 March 2026 Mölnlycke Health Care are recalling specific batches of Hibiwash® due to microbial contamination at the manufacturing facility, following routine weekly microbiological monitoring. DMRC reference number: DMRC-38814497 Company name:Regent Medical Limited / Mölnlycke Health [...] The post MHRA Class 2 Medicines Recall: Hibiwash® 500ml (Regent Medical Limited / Mölnlycke Health Care) appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

A short survey has opened to hear what pharmacy owners think of Community Pharmacy England’s communications and how they could be improved. As we approach three years on from our rebrand to Community Pharmacy England, we’re taking a fresh look at how we communicate and engage with you. Your insight is vital to helping us [...] The post CPE Comms: Are you getting what you need from us? appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

NHS England has authorised and published the patient group direction (PGD) for use in the Spring 2026 COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Download the Spring 2026 COVID-19 vaccination PGD The publication of the PGD, follows the earlier publication of a guide to support vaccination sites who intend to participate in the spring programme. The legislation which enabled the development [...] The post C-19 vac: Spring programme PGD published appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has today (18/03/2026) confirmed the following initial list of price concessions for March 2026: Drug Pack size Price concession Betamethasone 500microgram soluble tablets sugar free 100 £46.50 Carbocisteine 375mg capsules 120 £3.18 Cefalexin 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free 100 £4.52 Clobazam 10mg tablets 30 £2.51 Co-codamol 30mg/500mg [...] The post March 2026 Price Concessions 1st Update appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

We know pharmacy teams across the country are being asked questions by patients about the outbreak of meningococcal disease in parts of Kent. NHS England has issued further information and guidance on this in a letter sent to ICBs today (18th March 2026). Read the NHS England letter We expect that ICBs will cascade this [...] The post NHS England letter regarding outbreak of meningococcal disease appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

Income Support and Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance are to be abolished by the Department for Work and Pension (DWP) from 1 April 2026. Some payments will continue to be made for a two-week run-on period to provide transitional protection, which means that people may continue to claim exemption from prescription charges on the grounds of Income [...] The post Income Support and Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance exemptions to end from April 2026 appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

To help prepare for new legislation, pharmacy owners are being encouraged – although not legally required – to sign up for NHS England’s Sexual Safety Charter.  Here is key information for pharmacy owners about this.  NHS England and ICB ask  NHS England is continuing to ask ICBs to follow up with primary care providers, including pharmacy owners, encouraging them to sign up to the NHS [...] The post NHS England’s Sexual Safety Charter: What pharmacy owners need to know appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.