Control of Entry Suite of Resources

NHS Pharmaceutical Services Regulations: Control of Entry Suite of Resources for PCTs and Shared Agencies

Information for PCTs

This suite of resources and template letters have been developed and endorsed by the Pharmacy Regulations User Group - an expert group that meets with the DH and NHS PCC on a quarterly basis. More information about the group and its terms of reference, as well as minutes of the meetings can be found here. Some of the content of the templates are not mandated under the NHS Pharmaceutical Services (2005) Regulations but highlight good practice developed by representatives on the user group and the processes they have implemented locally to effectively and efficiently manage Control of Entry processes.

The resources consist of procedure checklists, template letters and examples of decision reports for each of the CoE applications. PCTs are invited to use these resources or adapt locally to meet their own needs. Other relevant documents are also included as examples of good practice.

Three new distinct applications forms have been developed as part of the resources which include:

• Application form for inclusion in the pharmaceutical list in respect of new or additional pharmacies subject to full control of entry criteria
• Application form for inclusion in the pharmaceutical list in respect of a change of ownership or relocation (minor relocation) of an existing pharmacy
• Application form for inclusion in a pharmaceutical list in respect of new or additional pharmacies exempt from the ‘necessary or desirable’ test.

This can be found in the chapters below. In addition, the application forms used by the Primary Care Support Services in Surrey and Sussex have also been included to sit along side much of the templates they have developed.

The suite of resources will develop further over time as further useful documents emerge and are developed. NHS PCC would like to extend thanks to the User Group for developing and sharing these resources.

1. Introduction to the Control of Entry Resources
2. Background to and overview of the Regulatory System
3. Entry onto a pharmaceutical list: general provisions for non-controlled localities
4. Entry onto a pharmaceutical list in non-controlled localities: Full and Preliminary Consent
5. Entry onto a pharmaceutical list under exemptions to the regulatory test
6. Minor Relocations
7. Change of Ownership and other applications
8. Determination of rurality
9. Entry onto a pharmaceutical list in controlled localities: General Principles
10. Entry onto a pharmaceutical list in controlled localities by pharmacists
11. Entry onto a dispensing list and premises approval - pharmaceutical services by GPs
12. Applications for change of premises and minor relocations for dispensing practices
13. Times when pharmaceutical services will be provided
14. Removal from a pharmaceutical list (not on FtP grounds)
15. Issues to Consider

As part of their Control of Entry processes, as well as to support commissioning decisions for pharmaceutical services, PCTs will want to ensure that they have an up-to-date Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment.  The PNA Toolkit was updated in September 2007 and can be found here.