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Newsletter

Thursday 16th October 2025

This newsletter is sent on Thursdays and contains useful information for community pharmacy contractors, managers and team members across Norfolk & Suffolk.

In this update

National Health Campaigns 2025/26 - Final Details

C-19 Eligibility Resources

Local Information & Updates

Pharmacy Team Survey - Last Chance To Enter Prize Draw!
Celebrating Success & Awards - Share your success with us!
NWICB EOI for Winter Bank Holidays

Training & Development Opportunities

CPPE Pharmacy Technician Development Programme
NHSE Pharmacist Trainee Funding 2025/26

Other Information & Actions from CPE

CPE & Other Links

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England have finalised plans for two national health campaigns that all pharmacies must participate in during 2025/26. The campaigns will run from:

Monday 20th October 2025 to Sunday 9th November 2025; and
Monday 2nd February 2026 to Sunday 22nd February 2026.

Pharmacies can promote the service in a variety of ways to meet the campaign requirements, including through materials already in use.

Read more and download resources

CPNS will also be promoting the National campaigns on our social media platforms, follow and share our posts on the links below.

With the widespread issue of ineligible patients booking COVID-19 vaccinations due to issues with the National Booking System affecting community pharmacies, CPE has produced posters to help explain the current eligibility criteria for the vaccination.

View and download the posters here

Pharmacies may find these useful to print and display. The situation has led to increased pressure on pharmacy staff, with reports of verbal abuse from disappointed patients. CPE is advocating for urgent action to reduce the burden on pharmacy teams and ensure smoother vaccine delivery this season.

If you have not already done so, the ICB encourage all sites to review the recently updated National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Vaccination Training - GOV.UK to provide assurance that all staff working on vaccination campaigns are trained appropriately.

CPE have also been seeking compensation for Pharmacy owners and have now written formally to the NHS about these issues.

LOCAL INFORMATION & UPDATES

Last Chance To Enter Pharmacy Team Survey 2025

We value your feedback and would love to hear your views in our survey. Your insights will help us improve our support for you, our contractors, over the next year.

As a thank you, all entries from Norfolk and Suffolk team members will go into a prize draw to win one of three £50 Love to Shop vouchers!

Please share this opportunity with all staff and locums. Your input is appreciated!

Celebrating Success & Awards Across Norfolk & Suffolk

We love to celebrate the successes and achievements of our dedicated pharmacy staff and contractors, who support our patients through exceptional pharmacy services. Discover the inspiring winners and finalists of the National Awards ceremonies on our dedicated webpage.

If you have a story you would like to share with us, please contact info@cpns.org.uk

Norfolk & Waveney ICB Expression of Interest Winter Bank Holidays

All pharmacies in the Norfolk and Waveney area would have received an email earlier this week asking for Expressions of Interest for the winter bank holidays. Please can we ask all contractors in this area to review the email and respond if they want to be considered to open these days.

Training & Development Opportunities

Pharmacy Technician Development Programme – Preparing for the Future

Applications Open!

NHS England and CPPE have launched a new training programme to empower pharmacy technicians with the skills needed for evolving roles in healthcare.

Why join?

Boost clinical confidence
Build leadership and decision-making skills
Adapt to changes in supervision legislation and Pharmacy First services
Learn flexibly with support from a dedicated education supervisor

Programme runs: October 2025 – March 2026
Who’s it for? All pharmacy technicians across England

Pharmacy Technicians - Community Pharmacy Norfolk and Suffolk Gives you the full offer details.

Update on Foundation Trainee Pharmacist Funding for 2025/26

NHS England has confirmed an increase in funding for training sites hosting foundation trainee pharmacists in the 2025/26 academic year. Each eligible site will now receive £27,295 per trainee, up from the previously announced £26,500. [hee.nhs.uk]

This funding applies to placements starting in both summer and autumn 2025 and will be automatically distributed, including backdated payments from the trainee’s start date. No additional action is required from training sites to receive the updated amount. [thepharmacist.co.uk]

The funding is designed to support the full range of costs involved in hosting a trainee — including supervision, administration, and salary — and is standardised across all sectors and regions in England. For more details, visit NHS England’s official page.

Other CPE Information & Actions

Have you completed the Mandatory Workforce Survey Yet?

The deadline for completion is Friday, 21st November 2025.

Click here for further information and to complete the survey.

Off site Flu vaccination

If you are planning to vaccination patients outside of your premises e.g. in a care home or to housebound patients, please ensure that you complete this form as NHSE can not guarantee payment if you vaccinate outside of your premises without receiving consent from NHS England, East of England first.