Community Pharmacy England (CPE) - News updates

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.

Local Pharmaceutical Committee (LPC) Chairs from across the country came together this week to share experiences, strengthen leadership skills and discuss the support that LPCs provide to their LPC team and local pharmacy owners during this time of mounting pressure upon the sector. The Forum of LPC Chairs, provided an important opportunity for new and [...] The post Shared learning: LPC Chairs meet to share experiences and support mechanisms appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

MHRA Class 2 Medicines Recall: Curaleaf Laboratories, Curaleaf Oil [FS] 10mg/ml THC, 10mg/ml CBD (Rokshaw Ltd) Drug alert number: EL(26)A/13 Date issued: 12 March 2026 Curaleaf Laboratories are recalling three batches of Curaleaf Oil [FS] 10mg/ml THC 10mg/ml CBD (30ml) due to low THC content. DMRC reference number: DMRC-38668711 Company name:Rokshaw Limited Trading as Curaleaf Laboratories [...] The post MHRA Class 2 Medicines Recall: Curaleaf Laboratories, Curaleaf Oil [FS] 10mg/ml THC, 10mg/ml CBD (Rokshaw Ltd) appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

MHRA Class 3 Medicines Recall:Bayer Plc, Various Products Drug Alert Number: EL(26)A/12 Date issued: 12 March 2026 Bayer Plc is recalling all stock of the products listed in this notification as a precautionary measure due to the identification of an impurity above the acceptable limit. The recall is at pharmacy and wholesaler level. DMRC reference number: [...] The post MHRA Class 3 Medicines Recall: Bayer Plc, Various Products appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

With Good Friday (3rd April) bank holiday occurring in the first five days of April 2026, pharmacy owners will be afforded an extra day, 6th April, to submit their FP34C declaration using the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal. However, this year, the 6th April is also a bank holiday (Easter Monday) which means that the [...] The post FP34C and prescription bundle submission deadlines over Easter appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

The deadline to respond to the 2026 Pharmacy Pressures Survey has been extended to 10am on Monday 13th April. Our annual survey monitoring the health of the sector is waiting to hear from pharmacy owners and pharmacy team members like you. Your experiences of pressures such as rising costs and medicine supply issues provide the essential [...] The post Pressures Survey extended: We’re awaiting your response appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.