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

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

26.—(1) An NHS pharmacist (P) may apply to [F1 NHS England] for it to change the days on which or times at which P is obliged to provide pharmaceutical services [F2 during core opening hours] at P's pharmacy premises in a way that—

(a) reduces the total number of hours for which P is obliged to provide pharmaceutical services at those premises each week F3 ...; or

(b) keeps that total number of hours the same.

(2) [F4 Except where sub-paragraph (2A) applies,] where P makes an application under sub-paragraph (1), as part of that application P must provide [F1 NHS England] with such information as [F1 NHS England] may reasonably request in respect of [F5 the matters that NHS England must seek to ensure pursuant to paragraph 24(1)].

[F6 (2A) In the case of an application for a direction under sub-paragraph (4) that has the effect of reducing, in the case of any premises in respect of which a 100 hours condition applies or has ever applied, or in respect of which a direction that replaced (at any distance in succession) a 100 hours condition applies, the total number of core opening hours to 72 or above, but without changing any or all of the following—

(a) the core opening hours on a Monday to Saturday at times between 5pm and 9pm;

(b) the core opening hours on a Sunday at times between 11am and 4pm, other than by way of the inclusion of, or a change to, a rest break which—

(i) is no longer than one hour, and

(ii) starts at least 3 hours after the start of the pharmacy’s opening hours and ends at least 3 hours before the end of the pharmacy’s opening hours; and

(c) the total number of core opening hours on a Sunday,

NHS England must grant that application, and paragraph 24(1) does not apply to such an application.

(2B) In the case of a valid application for a direction under sub-paragraph (4) to which sub-paragraph (2A) applies, if—

(a) the date included in the application as the date on which P wishes to change P’s core opening hours is five weeks or more after the day on which the application is received by NHS England; and

(b) NHS England has not determined the application by that date,

pending the determination of the application, P’s core opening hours are the core opening hours that P requested in the application.]

(3) [F1 NHS England] must determine the application within 60 days of receiving it (including any information required of P in accordance with sub-paragraph (2)).

(4) When it determines the application, [F1 NHS England] must—

(a) issue a direction (which replaces any existing direction) which meets the requirements of sub-paragraphs [F7 (4A),] (5) and (6) and which has the effect of either granting the application under this paragraph or granting it only in part;

(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 (5) and (6); 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), where this has the effect of granting the application under this paragraph or granting it only in part, or

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

F8 ...

[F9 (4A) NHS England must not issue a direction under sub-paragraph (4), or revoke without replacing it an existing direction under that sub-paragraph, if doing so would have the effect of reducing, in the case of any premises in respect of which a 100 hours condition applies or has ever applied, or in respect of which a direction that replaced (at any distance in succession) a 100 hours condition applies, any or all of the following—

(a) the total number of core opening hours to below 72;

(b) the core opening hours on a Monday to Saturday at times between 5pm and 9pm;

(c) the core opening hours on a Sunday at times between 11am and 4pm, other than by way of the inclusion of, or a change to, a rest break which—

(i) is no longer than one hour, and

(ii) starts at least 3 hours after the start of the pharmacy’s opening hours and ends at least 3 hours before the end of the pharmacy’s opening hours; and

(d) the total number of core opening hours on a Sunday,

and an application seeking such a change is not a valid application for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2B).

(4B) On and after 25th May 2023, NHS England must not issue a direction under sub-paragraph (4), or revoke without replacing it an existing direction under that sub-paragraph, pursuant to an application made before 25th May 2023 for a direction pursuant to this paragraph as it had effect before 25th May 2023, if doing so would have the effect of reducing, in the case of any premises in respect of which a 100 hours condition applies, any or all of the following—

(a) the core opening hours on a Monday to Saturday at times between 5pm and 9pm;

(b) the core opening hours on a Sunday at times between 11am and 4pm, other than by way of the inclusion of, or a change to, a rest break which—

(i) is no longer than one hour, and

(ii) starts at least 3 hours after the start of the pharmacy’s opening hours and ends at least 3 hours before the end of the pharmacy’s opening hours; and

(c) the total number of core opening hours on a Sunday.]

(5) Where [F1 NHS England] issues a direction under sub-paragraph (4) 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 premises, and

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

but [F10 except in a case to which sub-paragraph (4A) applies,] it must not set out in that direction 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.

(6) [F1 NHS England] must not issue a direction under sub-paragraph (4) 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).

(7) Where [F1 NHS England] is considering taking action under sub-paragraph (4)(a) or (c)(i), it shall consult the Local Pharmaceutical Committee for the area in which the pharmacy premises are situated before determining the application.

(8) [F1 NHS England] must notify P of any direction issued or any other action taken under sub-paragraph (4), and where this has the effect of refusing an application under this paragraph or granting it in part, it must send P a statement setting out—

(a) the reasons for the refusal or, as the case may be, for granting the application only in part; and

(b) P's right of appeal under sub-paragraph (9).

(9) P may, within 30 days of receiving a notification pursuant to sub-paragraph (8), appeal in writing to the Secretary of State against any action under sub-paragraph (4) which has the effect of refusing an application under this paragraph or granting it only in part.

(10) The Secretary of State may, when determining an appeal, either confirm the action taken by [F1 NHS England] or take any action that [F1 NHS England] could have taken under sub-paragraph (4).

(11) The Secretary of State must notify the pharmacist of the determination and must include with the notification a statement of the reasons for the determination.

(12) 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 (9), not earlier than 30 days after the date on which P receives notification under sub-paragraph (4); or

(b) if P has appealed under sub-paragraph (9), not earlier than 30 days after the date on which P receives notification under sub-paragraph (11).

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

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Regulations substituted (6.11.2023) by The Health and Care Act 2022 (Further Consequential Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1071), reg. 1(1), Sch. para. 1

F2 Words in Sch. 4 para. 26(1) inserted (25.5.2023) by The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/479), regs. 1(2), 12(2)(a)

F3 Words in Sch. 4 para. 26(1)(a) omitted (25.5.2023) by virtue of The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/479), regs. 1(2), 12(2)(b)

F4 Words in Sch. 4 para. 26(2) inserted (25.5.2023) by The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/479), regs. 1(2), 12(3)(a)

F5 Words in Sch. 4 para. 26(2) substituted (25.5.2023) by The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/479), regs. 1(2), 12(3)(b)

F6 Sch. 4 para. 26(2A)(2B) inserted (25.5.2023) by The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/479), regs. 1(2), 12(4)

F7 Word in Sch. 4 para. 26(4)(a) inserted (25.5.2023) by The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/479), regs. 1(2), 12(5)(a)

F8 Words in Sch. 4 para. 26(4)(c) omitted (25.5.2023) by virtue of The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/479), regs. 1(2), 12(5)(b)

F9 Sch. 4 para. 26(4A)(4B) inserted (25.5.2023) by The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/479), regs. 1(2), 12(6)

F10 Words in Sch. 4 para. 26(5)(a) inserted (25.5.2023) by The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/479), regs. 1(2), 12(7)