NHS England has published the service specification for the NHS Urgent Medicine Supply Advanced Service pilot (NUMSAS). Pharmacies can now access crucial information about provision of this service, including funding information, to inform their decision as to whether they sign up to provide it. 

The pilot was announced as part of the Department of Health’s much-discussed two-year funding package for community pharmacy, and is being commissioned as an Advanced Service. The objective of the service are to:

• Manage appropriately NHS 111 requests for urgent medicine supply
• Reduce demand on the rest of the urgent care system
• Resolve problems leading to patients running out of their medicines
• Increase patients' awareness of electronic repeat dispensing.

Monies from the Pharmacy Integration Fund are being used, rather than the main community pharmacy contractual framework funding. This is to test and evaluate the service to help inform possible future commissioning.

Most pharmacies will not be able to begin providing the service straightaway, as it is subject to a phased geographical rollout. However, all contractors can register their intention to provide it on the NHS Business Services Authority website from 1 December.

PSNC is helping contractors navigate the new service. Contractors can access information on their website.