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Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) announced today that it has agreed a funding package of £2.8 billion with the NHS employers organisation, for 2015/16.

The agreement relies on a number of changes to the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF), including a new advanced service for influenza vaccinations for all at risk groups, starting in September 2015. Funding for the flu service will be in addition to and outside of the £2.8 billion.

Pharmacy contractors will receive £9.14 per administered dose of vaccination as well as reimbursement of vaccine costs. The fee comprises remuneration of £7.64 per administered dose and an additional fee of £1.50 per vaccination to recognise costs that will be incurred in order to provide the service (e.g. training and clinical waste disposal costs).

€We have seen a massive level of commissioning of flu services, but quite often they have been restricted to the categories of patients, and in some cases have given rise to quite a lot of local tension with GPs. So this is really good,€ said Sue Sharpe, chief executive of PSNC

€I think for me also what it does is give a powerful signal to the general public that pharmacies are providing to the public an important clinical service. So I hope that in itself it will do a lot to reinforce in the public's mind that these are outlets for public services.€

Lead negotiator for the NHS Employers organization, Felicity Cox said: €This new service expands the role of Community Pharmacy, making better use of the clinical skills of pharmacists and delivering improved choice and access to services for people.€

Other changes agreed in the deal include:

- Changes to the contractual framework that will in future require pharmacists to point out to patients who claim exemption from prescription charges, where no evidence is presented, that the NHS routinely checks claims for exemption and takes action whenever inappropriate claims are made.

- Agreement to establish a joint working group to review the costs and system issues for the Electronic Prescription Service.

- A requirement for pharmacies to participate in a national audit that will take place in 2015/16. Further information on this will follow at a later date.۬

- Agreement to work together to develop business cases for new community pharmacy services for consideration in the 2016/17 discussions.

£2 billion of the agreed funding will be delivered through fees and allowances with £800 million to be delivered through agreed purchase margins. The New Medicine Service (NMS) and Medicines Use Reviews (MURs) will continue as before with funding to come from the agreed £2 billion.

Salim Jetha, CEO of Avicenna was happy with the deal saying: "With Summary Care Records in offering, this start could link up with National Vaccination programme providing patients greater accessibility and choice."