Community pharmacists in England may now carry out Medicines Use Reviews (MURs), where clinically appropriate, by telephone or video link without having to obtain permission from the Commissioning Board on each occasion. It is only necessary to obtain and record verbal consent from the patient. In addition, the New Medicine Service (NMS) may be provided by telephone or video link by a pharmacist who is not at the relevant pharmacy premises. Video consultations are also permitted in Scotland and Wales. See advice from the PSNC for more information.

Flu vaccination programme

The service specification for the Community Pharmacy Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Advanced Service for the 2020/21 influenza season contained some important changes that have made the service less cumbersome to operate. For example, it is no longer necessary to obtain written consent for the service; verbal consent can be obtained and recorded. In addition, many of the restrictions on where vaccinations may be administered have been removed.