Community pharmacy contractors are required to ensure continuity of service provision in line with the terms of their NHS contract.
Unscheduled Closures:
Any unplanned or unscheduled closure of a community pharmacy represents a potential breach of contract and must be avoided wherever possible. In the event of unforeseen circumstances leading to a closure, contractors must notify the Community Pharmacy Services Team immediately and take all reasonable steps to minimise disruption to patient care.
All pharmacy closures must be reported via the questionnaire here
Planned Closures:
For any planned closures (e.g. refurbishment, staff training, or other operational reasons), contractors must contact the Community Pharmacy Services Team in advance to seek approval and ensure appropriate arrangements are in place.
Maintaining open communication is essential to support service continuity and safeguard patient access to pharmaceutical care.
Important Resources:
Record of Community Pharmacy Closures
(ADD BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLAN TEMPLATE)