Pharmacy Quality Scheme 2023-24
The Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) PQS scheme was launched on 1 June 2023.
It consists of one gateway criterion (NMS) and three domains (Medicines Optimisation, Respiratory and Prevention).
To qualify for the PQS payment, pharmacy contractors must meet the gateway criterion by the end of 31 December 2023 and claim payment during the declaration period, which is between 9am on 5 February 2024 and 11.59pm on 1 March 2023/24.
The aspiration payment declaration will open on 9am on 4 September 2023 and close at 11.59pm on 29 September 2023.
Click here to see the Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS) 2023-24 guidance.
For further information about PQS please visit NHSBSA website
Timeline
Please note this list is not exhaustive and highlights some of the key dates in the PQS calendar. Please see the full guidance document for full details.
| Date | Domain | Action |
| ASAP | Medicines Safety & Optimisation – High Risk Medicines – Palliative Care | Update NHS Profile Manager to show if you are a Pharmacy Palliative Care Medication Stockholder and routinely hold the 16 palliative and end of life critical medicines |
| ASAP | Medicines Safety & Optimisation – High Risk Medicines – Anticoagulant Audit | Review the recommendations for community pharmacy from the first anticoagulant audit.
Complete the 2023/24 anticoagulant audit by 31 March 2024 Data must be collected for 2 weeks, with a minimum sample size of 15 patients, extended to 4 weeks if 15 patients has not been achieved. |
| ASAP | Prevention – Antimicrobial Stewardship | Review the recommendations for community pharmacy from the first TARGET Antibiotic Checklist data collection.
Complete 2023/24 data collection by 31 March 2024. Data must be collected for 4 weeks, with a minimum sample size of 25 patients, extended to 8 weeks if 25 patients has not been achieved. |
| 1st Sept | Prevention – Antimicrobial Stewardship | TARGET Treating Your Infections Leaflets data collection tool available on MYS.
Review the recommendations for community pharmacy from the first TARGET Treating Your Infections data collection. Complete 2023/24 data collection by 31 March 2024. Data must be collected for 4 weeks, with a minimum sample of 15 patients for each leaflet (UTI and RTI), extended to 8 weeks if this has not been achieved. |
| 4th Sept – 29th Sept | Aspiration Payment | Aspiration payment window will be open between 09.00 on 4 September 2023 and 23:59 on 29 September through MYS |
| 31st Dec 24 | Gateway Criterion | Pharmacies must complete 15 NMS between 1 April 2023 and 31 December 2023. |
| 5th Jan 24 | Gateway Criterion | Pharmacies must have claimed for a minimum of 15 NMS between 1 April 2023 and 5 January 2024 to be eligible for a PQS payment. |
| 5th Feb 24 | Prevention – Antimicrobial Stewardship | Last chance to start both the TARGET Antibiotic Checklist and Antibiotic TARGET leaflet data collections in time for 31 March 2024 completion. |
| 5th Feb – 1st Mar 24 | PQS Declaration Window | The PQS declaration window will be open between 09:00 on 5 February 2024 and 23:59 on 1 March 2024 through MYS. |
| 4th Mar 24 | Medicines Safety & Optimisation – High Risk Medicines – Anticoagulant Audit | Last chance to start the anticoagulant audit in time for 31 March 2024 completion. |
| 31st Mar 24 | End | All activity must be completed including training. |