The SCS is a nationally commissioned advanced Service as part of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework.
The SCS in community pharmacy will allow NHS trusts to refer patients to a pharmacy of their choice so they can receive continuing treatment, advice, and support with their attempt to quit smoking when they’re discharged.
Read more information about the service and view the products that can be claimed for on our website.
Registering
You can register for the service on the Manage your service (MYS) portal. You must include a declaration to show your readiness to provide the service.
If you want to stop providing the SCS, you must de-register on MYS and provide 30 days’ notice. Any service activity you provide during your notice period will be paid as usual.
You’ll not be able to re-register for the service for 4 months from the final day of your 30 day notice period. If you want to re-register after this time, you can do so on MYS.
Payment
From 1 November 2022, pharmacy contractors who sign up to deliver the service will qualify for a single upfront payment of £1000. This will be paid following registration on MYS to provide the service. If you cease trading or deregister within 30 days of registering, you’ll not be eligible for this payment.
From 10 March 2022, for each patient referred who has a first consultation, a fee of £30 will be paid.
A fee for each interim consultation with a patient of £10 will be paid.
On completion of the last consultation a fee of £40 for each patient will be paid. The last consultation may be at any point from and including the 4-week review up until the 12-week review.
Consultation fees cannot be claimed if:
- you cannot contact the referred patient
- the patient declines the referral on first contact
Medication supplied
You can view the list of medications for the SCS in Part VIC of the Drug Tariff.
An extended version of the list with additional information is available on our website.
Claiming
The claim for activity for each month must be made using the Manage your service (MYS) portal no later than the fifth of the following month.
If you do not have access to MYS, you can download and complete the Smoking Cessation Service claim form from our website.
This must be sent by email to mys@nhsbsa.nhs.uk.
Later claims will be accepted within 3 months of the date by which the claim should have been submitted. Later claims will not be paid, unless the submission was delayed by IT issues outside of your control.
These claims can be accepted within 12 months of when the claim should have been submitted, providing you send evidence of the IT issue to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).