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Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee

Practice Leaflet Requirements

The clinical governance requirements for pharmacies set out in paragraph 26(2)(a)(i) of the Chemists Terms of Service require the pharmacy to “… produce in an approved manner, a practice leaflet containing approved particulars in respect of his pharmacy”.

PSNC published the agreed particulars in the Pharmacy Contract Workbook in March 2007 so that pharmacies could use these when ordering updated leaflets. The statutory framework to require the use of the particulars was not introduced immediately, so that pharmacists would have time to use up their existing leaflets, and ensure their updated leaflets comply.

The Department of Health published on 15 October 2008, a clinical governance system acceptable to the Secretary of State for the pharmacy practice leaflet.  From 15 October, all pharmacies must produce a practice leaflet that complies with the specification.

See here for the Department of Health statement.

The requirements

The practice leaflet must include the following:

  1. Name, address and telephone number of the pharmacy;
  2. If owned by a company based elsewhere, the contact details for their head office;
  3. Opening hours;
  4. List or description of NHS services available at the pharmacy (including Advanced, but not necessarily Enhanced services);
  5. Access arrangements for disabled customers;
  6. NHS direct details as follows:
    "When the pharmacy is closed, health advice and information, including details of other local health services, is available round the clock from NHS Direct. You can use:
    - NHS Direct online at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
    - NHS Direct Interactive on digital TV
    - The NHS Direct telephone service. Call 0845 4647";
  7. Notice that the pharmacy is not obliged to serve violent or abusive customers;
  8. Notice that the pharmacy complies with the Data Protection Act and the NHS code on confidentiality;
  9. Detail of how to find out more about services offered, comment on those services, or make a complaint;
  10. Contact details of the local PCT; and
  11. The leaflet may, under a separate heading "Other services we provide", refer to healthcare-related non-NHS services provided by the pharmacy.

The leaflet must be printed using a plain font in minimum size 12 pt (the minimum size recommended by the Royal National Institute for the Blind), with sufficient contrast between print and background colour.

The leaflet must be branded with the NHS logo and the pharmacy descriptor line "Providing NHS Services" in the bottom right hand corner on the first page. The NHS logo must, as a registered trademark, be used in accordance with the NHS identity guidelines for pharmacies, available here.

A pharmacy/practice logo can be used as well, if the pharmacy has one.

The details of the equivalent Welsh requirements can be found here.

Template leaflet

PSNC has produced a template leaflet to assist pharmacy contractors with updating their own leaflets. This is only provided as a guide. Click on the link below to download the Mircosoft Word template.

Template practice leaflet (Microsoft word)

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DOWNLOADS: Some documents are available in ‘Microsoft Word’ format. If you do not have Microsoft Word, you can read these forms by downloading the free 'Word Viewer'. This program can be downloaded at the Microsoft website