The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Wales) Regulations 2013

Determination of pharmacy opening hours instigated by the Local Health Board

24.—(1) Where it appears to the Local Health Board in whose pharmaceutical list the NHS pharmacist is included, after consultation with or having considered the matter at the request of the Local Pharmaceutical Committee, that the times at which a pharmacy is or will be open for the provision of pharmaceutical services will not, or no longer meet, the needs of—

(a) people in the neighbourhood; or

(b) other likely users of his or her pharmacy,

for pharmaceutical services, it may carry out an assessment as to whether to issue a direction requiring the NHS pharmacist whose pharmacy it is to provide pharmaceutical services at the pharmacy at set times and on set days (which may include Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and bank holidays).

(2) Before concluding the assessment under sub-paragraph (1) the Local Health Board must—

(a) give notice to the NHS pharmacist of any proposed changes to the times at which or the days on which the pharmacy is to be open; and

(b) allow the NHS pharmacist 30 days within which to make written representations to the Local Health Board about the proposed changes.

(3) After considering any representations made in accordance with sub-paragraph (2)(b), the Local Health Board must—

(a) issue a direction (which will replace any existing direction) which meets the requirements of sub-paragraphs (4) and (5);

(b) confirm any existing direction setting the days on which and the times at which the NHS pharmacist must provide pharmaceutical services at the pharmacy provided that the existing direction would meet the requirements of sub-paragraphs (4) and (5) if it were issued under this paragraph; or

(c) either—

(i) revoke (without replacing it) any existing direction setting the times at which or the days on which the NHS pharmacist must provide pharmaceutical services at the pharmacy, or

(ii) in a case where there is no existing direction, issue no direction,

in which case, by virtue of paragraph 22(1)(a), the pharmacy must be open for not less than 40 hours each week.

(4) Where a Local Health Board issues a direction under sub-paragraph (3) in respect of a pharmacy that is required to be open—

(a) for more than 40 hours each week, it must set out in that direction—

(i) the total number of hours each week for which the NHS pharmacist must provide pharmaceutical services at the pharmacy, and

(ii) as regards the additional hours for which the NHS pharmacist is to provide pharmaceutical services, the days on which and times at which the NHS pharmacist is required to provide those services during those additional hours,

but it must not set out in that direction the days on which or the times at which the NHS pharmacist is to provide pharmaceutical services during hours which are not additional hours; or

(b) for less than 40 hours each week, it must set out in that direction the days on which and times at which pharmaceutical services are to be provided at that pharmacy.

(5) The Local Health Board must not issue a direction under sub-paragraph (3) that has the effect simply of requiring a pharmacy to be open for 40 hours each week on set days and at set times (that is, the direction must have the effect of requiring a pharmacy to be open for either more or less than 40 hours each week).

(6) The Local Health Board must notify the NHS pharmacist in writing of any direction issued or any other action taken under sub-paragraph (3), and where it sets new days on which or times at which the NHS pharmacist is to provide pharmaceutical services at the pharmacy, it must include with the notification a statement in writing of—

(a) the reasons for the change; and

(b) the NHS pharmacist’s right of appeal under sub-paragraph (7).

(7) An NHS pharmacist may, within 30 days of receiving notification under sub-paragraph (6) appeal in writing to the Welsh Ministers against any direction issued or any other action taken under sub-paragraph (3) which sets new days on which or times at which the NHS pharmacist is to provide pharmaceutical services.

(8) The Welsh Ministers may, when determining an appeal, either confirm the action taken by the Local Health Board or take any action that the Local Health Board could have taken under sub-paragraph (3).

(9) The Welsh Ministers must notify the NHS pharmacist in writing of their determination and must in every case include with the notification a written statement of the reasons for the determination.

(10) If the times at which or the days on which an NHS pharmacist is to provide pharmaceutical services at a pharmacy have been changed in accordance with this paragraph, the NHS pharmacist must introduce the changes—

(a) if he or she has not appealed under sub-paragraph (7), not later than 8 weeks after the date on which he or she receives notification under sub-paragraph (6); or

(b) if he or she has appealed under sub-paragraph (7), not later than 8 weeks after the date on which he or she receives notification under sub-paragraph (9).