The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Wales) Regulations 2020

Determination of pharmacy opening hours instigated by the NHS pharmacist

26.—(1) An NHS pharmacist may apply to a Local Health Board on whose pharmaceutical list the NHS pharmacist is included for it to change the days on which or the times at which the NHS pharmacist is obliged to provide pharmaceutical services at the NHS pharmacist’s pharmacy in a way that—

(a) reduces the total number of hours for which the NHS pharmacist is obliged to provide pharmaceutical services each week, or

(b) keeps the total number of hours the same.

(2) Where an NHS pharmacist makes an application under sub-paragraph (1), as part of that application the NHS pharmacist must provide the Local Health Board with such information as the Local Health Board may reasonably request in respect of any changes to the needs of the people in the neighbourhood, or other likely users of the pharmacy, for pharmaceutical services that are material to the application.

(3) The Local Health Board must determine an application under sub-paragraph (1) within 60 days of receiving it (including any information required of the applicant in accordance with sub-paragraph (2)).

(4) In determining the application, the Local Health Board must—

(a) issue a direction (which will replace any existing direction) which meets the requirements of sub-paragraphs (5) and (6) and which has the effect of either granting the application under this paragraph or granting it only in part,

(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 (5) and (6), or

(c) either—

(i) revoke (without replacing it) any existing direction in respect of the times at which or the days on which the NHS pharmacist must provide pharmaceutical services at the pharmacy, where this has the effect of granting the application under this paragraph or granting it only in part, or

(ii) in a case where there is no existing direction, issue no direction, in which case, by virtue of paragraph 23(1)(a), the pharmacy must be open for not less than 40 hours each week.

(5) Where a Local Health Board issues a direction under sub-paragraph (4) 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 is required to 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 the 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 the times at which pharmaceutical services are to be provided at that pharmacy.

(6) The Local Health Board must not issue a direction under sub-paragraph (4) 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).

(7) Where the Local Health Board is considering taking action under sub-paragraph (4)(a) or (4)(c)(i), it must consult the Local Pharmaceutical Committee before determining the application.

(8) A Local Health Board must notify the NHS pharmacist in writing of any direction issued or any other action taken under sub-paragraph (4), and where this has the effect of refusing an application under this paragraph or granting it in part, it must send the NHS pharmacist a statement in writing setting out—

(a) the reasons for the refusal or, as the case may be, for granting the application only in part, and

(b) the NHS pharmacist’s right of appeal under sub-paragraph (9).

(9) An NHS pharmacist may, within 30 days of receiving a notification pursuant to sub-paragraph (8), appeal in writing to the Welsh Ministers against any action under sub-paragraph (4) which has the effect of refusing an application under this paragraph or granting it only in part.

(10) 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 (4).

(11) 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.

(12) If the days on which or times at 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 they have not appealed under sub-paragraph (9), not earlier than 30 days after the date on which they receive notification under sub-paragraph (8), or

(b) if they have appealed under sub-paragraph (9), not earlier than 30 days after the date on which they receive notification under sub-paragraph (11).