The CPCS is the first clinical service to be mobilised as part of this framework and formally integrates participating community pharmacies into the urgent care system. Watch this short video to find out more:

This service has replaced NUMSAS (NHS Urgent Medicine Supply Advanced Service) and the DMIRS (Digital Minor Illness Referral Service) pilots that had previously been commissioned.

Referrals will be sent through PharmOutcomes (or Sonar in London[1]). As a back-up communication system the referral will also be sent to the pharmacies NHSmail account. If the referred patient does not contact the pharmacy, the pharmacist must make an attempt to contact the patient.

Please note: The service specification was amended in 2020 due to Covid-19 with patients who are referred to this service being told to telephone the pharmacy and speak to the pharmacist. The pharmacist provides a consultation by telephone, unless they feel that there is a clinical need for the patient to be seen in person. If the consultation is conducted in this manner, the pharmacy is eligible to claim the fee for provision of the service. From the 1st November 2020, general practices may now refer patients for a minor illness consultation via this service, but only once a local referral pathway has been agreed. This is the GP CPCS. GPs cannot refer patients for an urgent supply of a medicine or appliance. Pharmacy contractors should register to provide this service via the NHSBSA Manage Your Service (MYS) portal. Contractors who are currently registered to provide CPCS do not need to re-register to receive referrals for the GP CPCS, as this is an extension to the existing Advanced service.

[1] References to PharmOutcomes also refers to Sonar in London throughout this module.