The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013

Determination of pharmacy premises core opening hours instigated by the NHSCB U.K.

25.—(1) Where it appears to the NHSCB, after consultation with or having considered the matter at the request of the Local Pharmaceutical Committee for the area in which the premises are situated, that the days on which or times at which pharmacy premises are or are to be open for the provision of pharmaceutical services will not, or no longer, meet the needs of—

(a) people in its area; or

(b) other likely users of the pharmacy premises,

for the pharmaceutical services available at or from those premises, it must carry out an assessment as to whether to issue a direction requiring the NHS pharmacist (P) whose premises they are to provide pharmaceutical services at the pharmacy premises at set times and on set days (which may include Christmas Day, Good Friday and bank holidays).

(2) Before concluding the assessment under sub-paragraph (1) the NHSCB must—

(a) give notice to P of any proposed changes to the days on which or times at which the pharmacy premises are to be open; and

(b) allow P 30 days within which to make written representations to the NHSCB about the proposed changes.

(3) When it determines the outcome of its assessment, the NHSCB must—

(a) issue a direction (which replaces any existing direction) which meets the requirements of sub-paragraphs (4) and (5);

(b) confirm any existing direction in respect of the times at which P must provide pharmaceutical services at the pharmacy premises, provided that the existing direction (whether issued under regulation 65, this Part, the 2012 Regulations, the 2005 Regulations or the 1992 Regulations) would meet the requirements of sub-paragraphs (4) and (5); or

(c) either—

(i) revoke, without replacing it, any existing direction in respect of the times at which P must provide pharmaceutical services at the pharmacy premises (whether issued under regulation 65, this Part, the 2012 Regulations, the 2005 Regulations or the 1992 Regulations), or

(ii) in a case where there is no existing direction, issue no direction,

in which case, by virtue of whichever of paragraph 23(1)(a) or (b) applies, the pharmacy will need to be open for 40 hours each week or for at least 100 hours each week.

(4) Where the NHSCB issues a direction under sub-paragraph (3) in respect of pharmacy premises that are to be required to be open—

(a) for more than 40 hours each week, it must set out in that direction—

(i) the total number of hours each week for which P must provide pharmaceutical services at the pharmacy, and

(ii) as regards the additional opening hours, the days on which and the times at which P is required to provide those services during those hours,

but it must not set out in that direction the days on which or times at which P is to provide pharmaceutical services during hours which are not additional opening hours; or

(b) for less than 40 hours each week, it shall set out in that direction the days on which and times at which pharmaceutical services are to be provided at the pharmacy premises.

(5) The NHSCB must not issue a direction under sub-paragraph (3) that has the effect simply of requiring pharmacy premises to be open for 40 hours each week on set days and at set times (that is, the direction must have the effect of requiring pharmacy premises to be open for either more or less than 40 hours each week).

(6) The NHSCB must notify P of any direction issued or any other action taken under sub-paragraph (3), and where it sets new days on which or times at which P is to provide pharmaceutical services at pharmacy premises, it must include with the notification a statement of—

(a) the reasons for the change; and

(b) P's right of appeal under paragraph (7).

(7) P may, within 30 days of receiving notification under sub-paragraph (6), appeal in writing to the Secretary of State against any direction issued or any other action taken under sub-paragraph (3) which sets new days on which or times at which P is to provide pharmaceutical services.

(8) The Secretary of State may, when determining an appeal, either confirm the action taken by the NHSCB or take any action that the NHSCB could have taken under paragraph (3).

(9) The Secretary of State shall notify P of the determination and shall in every case include with the notification a statement of the reasons for the determination.

(10) If the days on which or times at which P is to provide pharmaceutical services at pharmacy premises have been changed in accordance with this paragraph, P must introduce the changes—

(a) if P has not appealed under sub-paragraph (7), not later than 8 weeks after the date on which P receives notification under sub-paragraph (6); or

(b) if P has appealed under sub-paragraph (7), not later than 8 weeks after the date on which P receives notification under sub-paragraph (9).

(11) This paragraph does not apply where regulation 65(5) to (7) applies.