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Update on Meningitis outbreak in Kent and latest guidance The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS are coordinating the health response to a number of cases of invasive meningococcal disease in the Kent area. A range of communications resources have been shared with partners: • You can read more on the cases in UKHSA’s media statement: Cases of invasive meningococcal disease confirmed in Kent - GOV.UK This same link will be updated with any further news updates. • Blog on meningitis: What is meningitis? Symptoms, risks and how to protect yourself – UK Health Security Agency • A vaccine communications toolkit for university students and a meningitis and septicaemia signs and symptoms asset has also been developed, co-badged with Meningitis Now.
It’s interesting how some of the same topics keep coming round, recently there has been a growing flurry of complaints about changing of patient EPS nominations. We have seen first hand on visits that many contractors are obtaining patient consent, ie patients are signing an EPS nomination form* but we are not sure that this is necessarily informed consent. This is often because a patient has an acute prescription (for example at the weekend or out of hours) or is attending for some other service that they cannot access at their usual pharmacy for whatever reason. It is perfectly reasonable for the “new” pharmacy to ask the patient if they want to change their nomination.
If you are not sure if you completed a DBS check within the last three years, or you are not sure if you enrolled for the DBS update service (which automatically renews and avoids the need to reapply every three years) or if you don’t know if you have a standard* or enhanced DBS check you can search "Track a DBS Application" *You must have the enhanced DBS check to meet the criteria for PQS, also any registered staff providing off-site vaccinations or the 2-3 year old ‘flu vaccinations are required to have a current enhanced DBS check
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For Information Only Update on Meningitis outbreak in Kent and latest guidance The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS are coordinating the health response…
It’s interesting how some of the same topics keep coming round, recently there has been a growing flurry of complaints about changing of patient EPS…
Look out for the details recently sent regarding the event taking place on Sunday 22nd March 2026 “Developing your non-NHS services”
NHS England has authorised and published the patient group direction (PGD) for use in the Spring 2026 COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Download the Spring 2026 COVID-19…
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has today (18/03/2026) confirmed the following initial list of price concessions for March 2026: Drug Pack size…
We know pharmacy teams across the country are being asked questions by patients about the outbreak of meningococcal disease in parts of Kent. NHS England…
