The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2005

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1992 (S.I.1992/662) (“the principal Regulations”) which govern the arrangements the provision of pharmaceutical services under the National Health Service Act 1977.

The amendments made by these Regulations introduce a contractual framework for the provision of pharmaceutical services which will enable pharmacies to provide a greater range of services and to be rewarded for the range and quality of those services.

Regulation 8 of these Regulations replaces Part II of the Terms of Service for Chemists which are contained within Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations with new terms of service for Chemists which are contained within Parts 2 to 5 of the substituted provision. The new terms of service introduce three tiers of pharmaceutical services: firstly, nationally set essential services, which include dispensing, repeat dispensing, clinical governance requirements and disposal of medication; secondly, advanced services, which are also nationally set and which currently comprise medicines use review and prescription intervention services; and finally, locally enhanced services, which can commissioned by Local Health Boards and the terms of which can be agreed locally.

Regulation 9 substitutes a new Part 6 into Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations. This replaces, without change, the terms of services for doctors who provide pharmaceutical services.

These Regulations make other amendments to the principal Regulations that are consequential upon the introduction of the new contractual framework for chemists.

Regulations 11 and 12 contain transitional provisions.