Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:14:21 +0100WeeblyThu, 27 Aug 2026 08:31:18 GMThttps://www.gandstlpc.net/news-stream/2026-virtual-agm-is-now-openAs in previous years and in line with our constitution Gateshead & South Tyneside LPC is holding its Annual General Meeting virtually through its website. 
 
The process to follow is:-

1. Visit the LPC  AGM webpage.
2. View the Annual Report & Accounts
3. Accept/Reject Annual Accounts and Submit Comments.

The Virtual AGM process will close at 10am on 23rd September 2026.
​]]>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 20:11:50 GMThttps://www.gandstlpc.net/news-stream/cpaf-screening-questionnaire-10-questions-deadline-31st-july-2026We would like to remind contractors to submit their CPAF Questionnaire to NHS England by the deadline of 31st July 2026. We urge contractors to submit it as soon as possible so they do not miss the deadline.

Community pharmacy contractors are required, as part of their terms of service, to complete the questionnaire for each of their NHS pharmacies. The 10-question Screening Questionnaire submission is made via MYS, and the process helps to demonstrate contractor compliance with the community pharmacy contract. Once completed, NHS England will select a small number of pharmacies for a monitoring visit and/or to complete the full CPAF questionnaire.

Further information on this year’s CPAF process is available on CPE's website here and on the NHS Business Services Authority’s (NHSBSA) website here.]]>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:10:01 GMThttps://www.gandstlpc.net/news-stream/new-nhs-meningitis-b-vaccine-service-teething-problems-keep-updated-via-cpeYou will have heard of— and many of you will have already registered to deliver — the new NHS MenB vaccination service, which is due to go live on 20 July 2026. 

As with any new service launched at pace, we are hearing of a number of teething problems in these early weeks, particularly around vaccine stock allocation and appointment booking. CPE has itself been clear with NHS England that the current approach to vaccine distribution is far from ideal and needs to improve.

Rather than duplicate national comms, we'd encourage you to go straight to the source.

Please:
• Read the latest service guidance on the CPE website — click here
• Sign up to CPE's email bulletin so updates land directly in your inbox — click here

We'll keep flagging issues on your behalf, but the fastest way to stay current is straight from CPE.
]]>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:03:01 GMThttps://www.gandstlpc.net/news-stream/pqs-aspiration-paymentclaim-window-now-open-until-28th-july-2026The window to claim an Aspiration payment for PQS 2026/27 is now open and the deadline is 28th July 2026 at 23:59.

The payment is claimed through the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal . The process is very simple and will take just a few moments. Pharmacy owners must then have evidence to demonstrate meeting the domains that they have claimed for by the end of 31st March 2027.

The Aspiration payment is optional; if you do not want to claim it, it will not impact your ability to claim a PQS payment during the declaration period.  However, if you are planning to undertake the PQS work you may find the earlier payment useful.

To find out more about 2026/26 PQS and Aspiration Payment click here to visit the CPE Webpage.]]>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 16:06:15 GMThttps://www.gandstlpc.net/news-stream/local-think-pharmacy-first-service-formulary-updatesThe ICB has reviewed and updated the Think Pharmacy First formulary to bring it into line with the North East and North Cumbria ICB  formulary.
 
The majority of changes are within the skin section but there are some others.
 
PharmOutcomes has been updated to include the new items already. Older products that are no longer on formulary will be removed from PharmOutcomes after the June invoices run, i.e. after 6th July, so please ensure you are using the new formulary from 1st July and destroy all old versions of the formulary.  The updated service spec and formulary can be download here.  

You can also access it from the left hand side bar within the service in Pharmoutcomes.
 
During the transition there as been some small technical issues.  If any of the old formulary products are missing for your June claims please contact  Ann Gunning so she can temporarily restore them.   ​]]>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 20:15:18 GMThttps://www.gandstlpc.net/news-stream/dsp-toolkit-202526-deadline-30th-june-2026This is a reminder for pharmacy contractors to complete their DSP Toolkit for 2025/26. 

Pharmacy owners are required to provide information governance assurances to the NHS on an annual basis by completing the online self-assessment Data Security and Protection Toolkit.

The deadline for community pharmacy contractors to complete the 2025/26 DSP Toolkit is 30th June 2026.

More information can be found on the CPE Website.
]]>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:54:31 GMThttps://www.gandstlpc.net/news-stream/june-18th-2026Free event for all pharmacists and trainee pharmacists:
Sunday July 5th 2026
Holiday Inn, Boldon, NE35 9PE
10:00 to 17:00
 
This workshop will introduce you to the essential clinical history taking and examination skills relating to respiratory symptoms.
The workshop will be led by local, experienced GP Mike Smith and includes clinical scenarios to help apply learning to practice.

• Local, easy to access venue Holiday inn Boldon, NE35 9PE
• Free lunch included
• Chance to chat with fellow professionals locally
• Pharmacy First is expanding, get ahead of the game

 
You will practise performing systematic respiratory clinical examinations with a person-centred approach.
 
Book your place today 
https://www.cppe.ac.uk/store/checkout?e=63157
 
Look out for future face to face events upcoming on the CPPE website, such as our Pharmacy First Workshop (for otoscopic practice) on the 13th of September, at the Ramside Hall Hotel, Co Durham.

]]>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 19:27:16 GMThttps://www.gandstlpc.net/news-stream/free-online-oral-health-training-for-pharmacy-teamsThe ICB is providing free one hour online oral health training for pharmacy teams in June and July 2026 to help put the mouth back into the body.
 
This awareness session will support the pharmacy team to offer advice to patients with dental symptoms and signpost to other services when needed. It will raise awareness of the importance of a healthy mouth and promote healthy lifestyle choices for good oral and general health.
The training is suitable for all members of the pharmacy teams including, pharmacist, pharmacy assistants, counter assistants, and pharmacy technicians.
 
Places are limited so booking early is essential.
 
For more information- please click here.]]>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 19:11:02 GMThttps://www.gandstlpc.net/news-stream/june-16th-2026Gateshead Council is moving NRT voucher supply from paper to an electronic voucher, delivered through PharmOutcomes. It will work as a referral service, in the same way as other PharmOutcomes referral services. The paper system will continue for a short period to allow a smooth transition. The information below will help you get set up.

Receiving and claiming e-vouchers
NRT vouchers will now arrive as a referral in PharmOutcomes. They will appear in the middle section of the Services screen, titled "NRT EVoucher – 03 – Pharmacy Supply".

• When you receive a referral, review the details and accept it, then use it just as you would a paper voucher.
• To claim, click Complete and record the details of what was supplied. This will build your invoice at the end of the month as usual.

Vouchers may come from several sources, including the stop smoking advisers at Public Health, Gateshead Council, and advisers based in GP practices.

Paper vouchers will not be accepted in the long run, so please review how your in-house service operates. In-house stop smoking advisers will need to issue their vouchers through PharmOutcomes.
You will shortly see two new e-voucher modules listed in the Services tab:

• NRT EVoucher – 01 – Patient Registration
• NRT EVoucher – 02 – Request to Pharmacy

Module 1 is used to register the patient; Module 2 is used to issue the voucher. When generating a voucher, select your own pharmacy as the destination. A patient only needs to be registered once — even if that registration was done at another pharmacy.
​
Top tip: always search for the patient in the issue module first. If they are already registered, you will see their history. If no patient is found, you can click through to register them.

A number of patients issued vouchers in the community require delivery, and this is now flagged on the voucher. If you are able to deliver, please do so as soon as you can within your pharmacy delivery service. If you cannot, please reject the voucher.

The original paper modules will remain active for a short period to allow any vouchers currently in the system to filter through, and will then be phased out as electronic replaces paper. All new vouchers must now be issued electronically.

If you have any queries, please contact:
Gemma King. 
Programme Lead - Tobacco
T:  0191 433 3043
E:  gemmaking@gateshead.gov.uk 

]]>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.gandstlpc.net/news-stream/feedback-wantedWe are inviting pharmacy contractors in South Tyneside & Gateshead to share their feedback on past LPC training, update and engagement events, and to tell us what you would like us to focus on in the year ahead.
Your feedback will help shape future events to better support you and your teams.
Please take a few minutes to complete our short survey here
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