New caps on the number of Pharmacy First consultations that pharmacies can be paid for have been introduced this month, the negotiator last week (December 30) announced.
Community Pharmacy England (CPE) said that the new caps – which were last updated in October - are “based on the monthly average of Pharmacy First (clinical pathways) delivered during August 2024 to October 2024”.
Read more: UPDATED: Pharmacy First thresholds slashed until March
Pharmacies in Band 1 have seen the biggest percentage increase in the maximum number of Pharmacy First clinical pathway consultations per month for which payment will be received, according to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).
The increases to the monthly consultation caps are:
- Band 1 – up 94% from 130 to 252 consultations
- Band 2 – up 86% from 145 to 269 consultations
- Band 3 – up 87% from 169 to 316 consultations
- Band 4 – up 82% from 199 to 362 consultations
- Band 5 – up 70% from 259 to 440 consultations
- Band 6 – up 55% from 507 to 786 consultations
Read more: ‘High volumes’: Fifth pharmacy suspended from Pharmacy First
The caps are “based on actual service delivery” and are in place until March 2025, the NHSBSA said.
“Activity can be delivered above the monthly cap but the £15 per consultation service fee will not be paid,” it added.
In 2023, pharmacists were told there would be an “initial cap of 3,000 consultations per month per contractor” set for April 2024 before new caps were to be introduced for October 2024.
New minimum thresholds begin
It comes as new minimum thresholds for Pharmacy First consultations that pharmacies must complete to qualify for the fixed monthly payment of £1,000 started this month.
The minimum consultation threshold is 25 for January and February, before increasing to 30 in March, while CPE told C+D last week (January 3) that new thresholds will be “a matter for discussion in the negotiations” on the 2025/26 contract.
Read more: MP: GPs need ‘financial incentive’ to engage with Pharmacy First
CPE said the thresholds have “been an ongoing topic of concern for pharmacy owners and [the negotiator] since the service launched”.
In September, C+D exclusively revealed that commissioners had suspended four pharmacies from the Pharmacy First scheme, all of which were leading providers of minor illness referral consultations.
Read more: Pharmacy First ‘enormously successful’, says CCA
And C+D reported in November that a fifth pharmacy had been suspended from the Pharmacy First service, with its integrated care board (ICB) citing “high volumes” and “the types of conditions referred” as reasons for suspension.
Meanwhile earlier this week, an MP called for “financial incentives” to be introduced to encourage GPs to “work with pharmacies” and engage with the Pharmacy First service, amid new plans for Pharmacy First ear, nose and throat (ENT) services.