Change of ownership consent

When buying a pharmacy business (as opposed to acquiring the shares in a company), you will need to make an application to NHS England for a change of ownership. Completion should also be made conditional upon such change of ownership being registered.

Electronic prescriptions

Regulation requires the buyer to inform patients who had previously nominated the target pharmacy for receiving their electronic prescriptions that the ownership has changed and check that they wish to continue to nominate the pharmacy. This needs to be undertaken within six months of change of ownership.

Fitness to practise

Pharmacies are required to provide a fitness to practise declaration to NHS England before they can provide NHS services. As this is the backbone of a dispensing pharmacy,
it is important to check that there are no problems in satisfying these requirements before committing to buying a pharmacy.

Ownership of premises

The GPhC needs to be notified of a transfer of ownership of any pharmacy premises within 28 days of the transfer taking place.

Superintendent pharmacist

If the buyer is a limited company that does not already own pharmacy premises, it will need to nominate a superintendent pharmacist.