Hub and Spoke: What you need to know

Following the introduction of hub and spoke dispensing between different legal entities this autumn, Community Pharmacy England’s Regulations Team reminds pharmacy owners of the guidance available to help them decide whether it’s appropriate for their pharmacy business. 

Among those pharmacies that are not currently using hub and spoke, around 36% are still exploring their options, and 10% haven’t considered it yet, according to our November sector poll. To support them in their considerations, the Regulations Team recently hosted a webinar on the regulation changes that allow hub and spoke dispensing, and an on-demand recording can be accessed HERE for anyone who missed the live event or would like to rewatch the webinar. 

We also previously published a comprehensive briefing on the subject – Briefing 020/25: Hub and Spoke dispensing between different retail pharmacy businesses – and have addressed some common queries on the subject (see below). 

Regulatory changes in summary 

The Human Medicines (Amendments Relating to Hub and Spoke Dispensing etc.) Regulations 2025 and The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025 came into force on 1st October 2025, enabling hub and spoke arrangements for different legal entities.  

Hub and spoke dispensing within a single retail pharmacy business (intra-company hub and spoke dispensing) was already permitted and has been a feature of pharmacy practice for a number of years. This is not affected by the new HMR and PLPS regulations. 

From 1st October 2025, an NHS pharmacy (spoke) can subcontract core dispensing activities to a hub pharmacy, as part of hub and spoke arrangements, only if certain requirements are met.  Those requirements are detailed in our  Briefing 020/25: Hub and Spoke dispensing between different retail pharmacy businesses.

Professional Standards  

As with all pharmacy practice, the standards, published by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), must be met. To further assist pharmacy owners, the GPhC has published guidance on hub and spoke dispensing. Pharmacy owners are advised to read the guidance before pursuing with hub and spoke. 

Recently added FAQs

Q. Can a private, non-NHS hub pharmacy enter into hub and spoke arrangements with an NHS spoke pharmacy? 

Yes, non-NHS pharmacies can enter into hub and spoke arrangements as the hub pharmacy.

Q. How will hub pharmacies claim the cost of dispensed items from the spoke pharmacy?

This is a matter of contract between the hub pharmacy and the spoke pharmacy. The Hub pharmacy will not be submitting prescriptions to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) that have been dispensed under hub and spoke arrangements. The spoke pharmacy will claim for the dispensing that is done by the hub. Therefore, a private contract between the hub and spoke pharmacies will need to be agreed upon as part of the hub and spoke arrangements to address costs. 

Q. Can schedule 2 controlled drugs be processed as part of the hub and spoke arrangements between different legal entities? 

No, schedules 1 to 3 controlled drugs must not be assembled or dispensed through hub and spoke arrangements between different legal entity dispensing businesses, as this would not comply with the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. All types of prescriptions for these schedules of controlled drugs, therefore, must be assembled and dispensed at the spoke pharmacy. 

Q. Can hub and spoke arrangements be between a pharmacy and a dispensing doctor’s practice? 

Yes, however, a dispensing doctor’s practice cannot be a hub pharmacy. Therefore, a dispensing doctor’s practice can enter into hub and spoke arrangements as the spoke pharmacy. Any prescriptions processed under these arrangements would still need to be supplied to the patient by the dispensing doctor’s practice (spoke).

Q. Does the spoke pharmacy need to relabel the medicines once they are received from the hub?

No, the hub will label the medicines with the date of preparation in the hub. However, the label must contain the name and address of the spoke. 

Q. Does the spoke pharmacy determine what is included on the medicine dispensing label? 

Yes, the spoke pharmacy will determine what is included on the medicine dispensing label. The hub pharmacy will be sent prescription information from the spoke pharmacy.

Q. Can the hub pharmacy be a distance selling premises (DSP) pharmacy?

Yes, DSP pharmacies can be hub pharmacies as part of hub and spoke arrangements. However, the supply to the patient must still be made by the spoke pharmacy and not directly from the hub pharmacy (DSP), as a DSP would normally process prescriptions.

Q. Can prescriptions that require delivery be delivered to the patient directly from the hub pharmacy? 

No, the supply to the patient must be made from the spoke pharmacy. Therefore, prescriptions must be returned to the spoke pharmacy before a delivery is made to the patient.

Q. Can a spoke pharmacy enter into multiple hub and spoke arrangements? 

Yes. The spoke pharmacy will need to conspicuously display notices for each hub and spoke arrangement it is part of. The spoke will also need to notify the ICB of those arrangements. 

Q. Are all NHS pharmacies expected to enter into hub and spoke arrangements? 

No. The change to the legislation is enabling. This means that pharmacies can choose to use the provision or not. 

Further information, including more FAQs, can be found on the Hub and Spoke webpage.