NHS Community Pharmacy Extended Care Service Tier 1, 2 and 3

on 15 March 2024, the East Midlands Primary Care Team have notified pharmacies, via email, of the discontinuation in part to the NHS Community Pharmacy Extended Care Service Tier 1, 2 and 3.

The service was reviewed by the East Midlands Pharmacy Governance Group and after careful consideration the group concluded not to offer the service after 31 March 2024. This decision was made due to launch of the Pharmacy First Service which commenced on 31 January 2024, it was recognised that four of the clinical pathways from the extended care Tier 1,2 and 3 services, were to be incorporated and have been aligned to the new advanced pharmacy first services.

There has been further discussion regarding the strategic development and deployment of

• Acute Bacterial Conjunctivitis 
• Treatment of Infected Eczema

To support these services, we are required to review and extend the current PGDs, following discussions it has been determined that within the current legal framework this cannot be achieved, in the timeframe to enable extension of the two pathways from 31 March 2024. Therefore, we are suggesting a pause of the two pathways is necessary, until this matter has been resolved and a review will be completed to determine how best to deploy these services across the East Midlands footprint.

Please read below in full the letter from the East Midlands Primary Care Team.

8. Letter to Pharmacies Extended Care Services (002)