National & Local News Update


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Newsletter

12/12/2024

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

In this update:

Festive Holidays

NHS Smartcards - Action Required

Norfolk PNA Deadline Extended

Wellbeing Support

Reminders

CPE & Other Links

Festive Holidays

Contractors can prepare for the holiday season by ensuring they:

Update your NHS profile information and DoS in the NHS Profile Manager
Read the CPE Briefing: 022/24: Bank holidays, pharmacy
opening hours in 2025 and for the remainder
of 2024. This briefing provides guidance for community pharmacy owners on the Terms of Service opening hours requirements for bank holidays in 2025 and the remainder of 2024.
NEW Below are the door posters for Norfolk & Waveney and Suffolk and North East Essex, please print display the relevant door poster for your area. Posters for other areas within the East of England can be found here. If you wish to display your pharmacies opening hours you can use this template.

**Please note the correct opening time for St Stephens Gate is displayed above 9am - 1pm, please ensure you display the correct one in your pharmacy**

NHS Smartcard Action Required

Pharmacy team members are advised to review and update their NHS Smartcards to ensure continued functionality.

Key actions include updating contact details in the Care Identity Management profile, registering for the mobile phone self-unlock feature, checking for role expiry dates, and replacing older cards (series 4-6), which are now obsolete.

For local support with Smartcards please view our website page Smartcards – Community Pharmacy Norfolk and Suffolk which is where you will find information and contact details for support in your area.

Norfolk Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2025

Pharmacy Contractor Questionnaire - Deadline extended

Soar Beyond are supporting Norfolk County Council to produce their 2025 Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA). We are undertaking a survey of all pharmacy contractors within Norfolk.

Please complete this questionnaire by 6th January 2025 at the latest.

Thank you for your time completing this questionnaire

Wellbeing Support

We are conscious that winter pressures mean your pharmacy teams are extremely busy during the run up to the holiday season, on top of delivering the Pharmacy First service, you will also be providing flu and covid vaccinations too, alongside the hundreds of daily tasks carried out in community pharmacies. You’re not alone.

You, and your team’s, health and wellbeing are paramount. If at any point you need any additional support or advice, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Please reach out whenever you need to via info@cpns.org.uk. You can also contact the industry charity Pharmacy Support for free and confidential help and guidance including; specialist advice, financial assistance, addiction support, counselling and peer support, and the Wardley wellbeing service.

The Primary Care Bulletin also highlighted a confidential 24/7 text support service for anyone who needs someone to talk to. The service can be accessed by texting SHOUT to 85258. Further support, such as mental health resources, wellbeing apps, and a money advice service, is also available from the NHS England website.

Access the wellbeing resources