PROMOTE YOUR FLU SERVICE

NPA members can download a free flu vaccination service promotional poster and a draft letter to local businesses. Visit npa.co.uk/u-service. UK

CHILDHOOD FLU POSTER CAMPAIGN

This month’s Public Health Scotland poster campaign topic covers childhood flu and starts on 21 September. For information on future topics, visit communitypharmacyscotland.org.uk. SCOTLAND

NHS FRAUD CHECKING

Since 1 July 2016, pharmacy teams in England have been required to advise patients who claim exemption from NHS prescription charges, where evidence is required but not presented, that the NHS routinely checks claims to verify exemption status. The NPA has produced a suggested script to aid patient communication regarding this requirement – “NHS fraud checking: suggested script” – and the guidance notes should be used in conjunction with it. ENGLAND

AUTO ENROLMENT

The Pensions Regulator is reminding small employers about their automatic enrolment duties and whether they need to provide a pension for their staff. For further information, contact the NPA Employment Law Advisory Service on 0330 123 0558. UK

CPD CALL AND REVIEW 2016

The GPhC has started a new CPD Call and Review cycle, and is now starting to call registrants again, some of whom have previously submitted their CPD records. If you have recently received a letter requesting CPD records to be submitted, this related to the period from the last time you submitted your records, not for the entire length of your registration.

You should submit to the GPhC nine CPD records per year since your last submission. For support, access the NPA’s new CPD hub npa.co.uk/training/cpd. ENGLAND, SCOTLAND AND WALES

SCOTTISH MINOR AILMENTS SERVICE – NEW DIRECTIONS AND SERVICE SPECIFICATION
The Scottish Government published revised directions and a revised service specification for the Minor Ailment Service (MAS), which strengthen the requirements for registration and remuneration. The directions and Specification came into force on 1 August 2016 and detail the ethical and professional responsibilities of the MAS provider in obtaining patient consent, and in promoting and providing the service. Key principles to be adhered to in providing and managing MAS are detailed in Annex C of the circular.