The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7367 p327
17 September 2005

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Extra hours cannot be enforced, PCTs are told

Primary care trusts have been told by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and the Department of Health that they cannot hold pharmacies that have declared core opening hours of more than 40 per week to their commitment.

Under the new pharmacy contract, pharmacies are required to declare to PCTs their core opening hours, plus any extra times they will be open. The contract requires pharmacies to be open for 40 hours a week, apart from those that have permission for fewer hours, and those awarded contracts under the control of entry exemption for pharmacies opening for at least 100 hours a week.