Expanded Directions for Hypertension Case-Finding Service and Smoking Cessation Service

Pharmacy press

Pharmacy technicians are now able to perform blood pressure checks as part of the Hypertension Case-Finding Service and deliver the Smoking Cessation Service (SCS). The Drug Tariff has been amended, where necessary, to reflect this and includes the amendments to The Pharmaceutical Services (Advanced and Enhanced Services) (Amendment) (England) Directions 2023.

Further information is available here

CEO Janet Morrison said:

“PSNC has long been an advocate for better use of the skill mix in pharmacy teams so this, along with the recent VAT changes on services carried out by non-registered pharmacy staff, is a very welcome development that should help ease capacity in the longer term. However, bigger and more immediate financial and operational challenges remain unresolved, and regrettably we have had to tell the NHS that there is currently no capacity to deliver any more services without additional funding. There is still a long way to go in easing the capacity burden on exhausted pharmacy teams.”