The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7468 p255
8 September 2007

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Announcements

• Christmas openings

Announcements

Christmas openings
Pharmacies are not required to open on 25 or 26 December 2007 or 1 January 2008 to meet their declared hours unless their primary care trust has issued directions or the pharmacy has agreed to open.

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee suggests pharmacies notify PCTs of their intended opening times and give an indication of what services will be available. A notification form is available from the PSNC website

In addition, 24 and 31 December 2007 are not bank holidays so, unless these days are not included within the declared core hours or supplementary hours with the PCT, the contractor will be required to keep the pharmacy open.

Should a pharmacy wish to close or limit its hours on these days, for example to close an hour early, it must either apply for a temporary suspension of services from the PCT or, if the hours it wishes to close early are all supplementary hours, notify the PCT of the change of supplementary hours.

The PCT will require notice of three months. This can also be applied to contractors who wish to increase their pharmacy opening hours beyond the hours directed by the PCT.