With rising costs within the Pharmacy sector, many contractors are looking to make efficiencies. However, the process to reduce core hours is not always straightforward, and not all applications to amend core hours are successful.
Healthcare Plus Consulting has successfully reduced core operating hours for Pharmacy contractors in England and Wales.
A pharmacy’s core hours are those hours when the pharmacy is required, by NHS England, to be open to provide pharmaceutical services. Any additional hours, when the pharmacy provides pharmaceutical services over and above its core hours, are known as “supplementary hours”.
Core Hours vs. Supplementary Hours
Understanding the distinction between core and supplementary hours is essential for making changes:
- Core Hours: These are the hours your pharmacy is contractually required by NHS England to provide pharmaceutical services.
- Supplementary Hours: These are additional, voluntary hours during which your pharmacy operates beyond its core obligations.
Both types of hours are subject to specific regulations when it comes to adjustments, requiring pharmacies to carefully plan any changes.
Amending Core Hours
Core opening hours cannot be amended without the consent of NHS England. To amend your core opening hours you must submit an application to NHS England, providing as much factual information as possible for the reasons for the request.
Generally, the reason will have to be because of a change in the needs of patients in the area and a prime example of why this might happen is where one or more local surgeries change their opening hours. This might necessitate a change in pharmacy opening hours to ensure pharmaceutical services are available at appropriate times.
Any application to NHS England should be considered within 60 days and any agreed changes can be implemented 30 days later.
It must be noted that where core contracted hours are amended, pharmacies are still required to provide the same number of core hours overall during each week. It should also be noted that a pharmacy’s supplementary hours may be converted into core hours as part of the amendment process.
Until a change is granted the pharmacy should maintain its previously agreed core opening hours, and if NHS England refuses the application, then the contractor may appeal the decision.
Changing Supplementary Hours
It is more straightforward for pharmacies to change their supplementary hours. Not less than 90 days’ notice must be given to the pharmacy’s NHS local area team of such a change. However, the NHS local area team has the discretion to allow less than 90 days’ notice. This may be the case where, for example, a local GP surgery has extended its opening hours and the NHS local area team wants to ensure that pharmaceutical services remain available at such times without any unwanted delay.
The NHS local area team cannot refuse such a change provided the required notice is given by the pharmacy.
Considerations When Changing Hours
When adjusting your pharmacy’s opening hours or temporarily suspending services, it’s essential to plan carefully to minimize disruption and ensure compliance. Here are some important considerations:
Informing Your Patients: Communicate any changes to your patients. Display notices that explain the new hours, and for closures, include details like:
The estimated duration of the closure: Information about nearby pharmacies that are open and can provide services.
Handling Urgent Prescriptions
Make arrangements for urgent prescriptions to be dispensed by a nearby pharmacy. Ensure patients are given clear directions so they can access the care they need without delay.
Supporting Clients with Substance Misuse Needs
If your pharmacy supports clients managing substance misuse, think about how any changes in hours might impact them. Notify both the patients and their prescribers in advance, so alternative arrangements can be made if required.
Notifying Local GPs
Inform local GP practices about any changes or closures. This helps them redirect patients effectively and ensures continuity of care.
Ensuring Premises Security
For temporary closures, particularly those caused by damage, make sure your premises are secure. This includes safeguarding medicines and patient records to prevent unauthorized access.
All businesses should have a suitable business continuity plan or procedures in place to deal with unforeseen closures that will ensure an effective supply of services for their patients in the area. As part of this plan, contractors may find it useful to discuss and arrange with other local service providers a mutual arrangement that can be put in place quickly to deal with any such unforeseen closures.
Breaching your contractual obligations on hours of opening
Contractors should always follow the correct procedures when considering changes to their opening hours or following emergencies or planned closures. If contractors are in breach of their contractual obligations in relation to opening hours then it is possible for the NHS local area team to issue breach notices and even consider financial withholdings.
At Healthcareplus Consulting we are experts in all Pharmacy regulatory work and can help Pharmacy contractors to reduce core and or supplementary hours.
Please visit Changing Core and Supplementary Pharmacy Hours for more information
To discuss further please call:
Sheelpa 07572714128 or email [email protected]
