Change to October Pharmacy First monthly threshold
The ability of pharmacy owners to achieve the thresholds for the monthly Pharmacy First payment has been an ongoing topic of great concern for pharmacy owners and Community Pharmacy England, particularly as the October increase to 30 clinical pathways got closer.
We have been discussing this issue over the last few weeks with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, and Ministers have now decided that they intend to reduce the October threshold for the Pharmacy First service to 20, in light of the concerns that we have raised.
Read the Drug Tariff determination
New Pharmacy First caps introduced from October
As stated in the announcement letter about the Pharmacy First service, from 1st October 2024, new caps on the number of consultations that can be delivered per month will be introduced based on actual delivery of Pharmacy First (clinical pathways).
A list of pharmacy owners, their assigned Band and monthly cap can be found on the NHS Business Services Authority’s (NHSBSA) website.
Read more information on the NHSBSA website about the Pharmacy First caps
Commenting on the decision to reduce the October monthly threshold, Janet Morrison, CEO, Community Pharmacy England said:
“It is great that Ministers have responded to our concerns about another increase to the Pharmacy First payment threshold: this decision will save many community pharmacies from missing out on a vital payment this month.
“We will continue to monitor the service data and, if needed, make further representations to Ministers about future months. We also need to find a longer-term solution to this, which means NHS England marketing Pharmacy First effectively and ensuring that GPs are actively referring people to the service.
“It is encouraging that the new Government has now acted twice to support community pharmacies struggling to meet Pharmacy First targets that were insisted on by the previous administration. We have been working hard to build constructive relationships with the new Health Ministerial Team and we look forward to recommencing negotiations on the 2024/25 CPCF very soon.”
