NRT / Champix E-Voucher Scheme

Important Update On Varenicline PGD Supply Fees – February 2025

Now that Varenicline is available again, local service commissioners are seeking to reintroduce the supply of varenicline using a PGD from community pharmacies under Stop Smoking Service Level Agreements. Following extensive discussions and negotiations regarding the fees for the Varenicline PGD supply element of the Stop Smoking SLAs across South and West Yorkshire, South West Yorkshire Trust (SWYT) has begun to issue their new SLA with the same fee structure that has been in place for several years.  The new SLA has been shared with Sheffield contractors over the last couple of days.  We are expecting it to be shared with Barnsley and Doncaster contractors imminently.

The fee structure for supplying Varenicline under PGD has not been increased, despite our request to address inflationary pressures, rising National Living Wage costs and the cost of providing a pharmacist-led intervention:

• Initial supply – £15 in Doncaster,  £20 in Barnsley & Sheffield

• Follow-up supplies – £3 in Doncaster,  £2.50 in Barnsley & Sheffield

We requested that SWYT exclude the Varenicline element from the current SLA until an agreement on fees had been reached.  They have gone against this advice and issued SLAs to contractors in Sheffield and Calderdale (West Yorkshire) already.  Additionally, on 13/02/25, SWYT contacted pharmacies in Barnsley with details of training and a note indicating that an SLA will follow shortly.

We fully recognise the significant financial pressures faced by community pharmacy contractors and the need for fair, sustainable remuneration for the services provided. Despite our efforts to propose a fee structure that accurately reflects the clinical responsibility and pharmacist intervention required for Varenicline supply, the current financial offer of £2.50 – £3 per pharmacist-led intervention remains inadequate and it is highly likely that you will be providing this service at a loss if you sign up to the SLA with the current fees. This undervaluation does not fairly compensate for the clinical expertise, time, and responsibility involved in supplying Varenicline under a PGD. It not only fails to support contractors but also risks undermining the long-term viability of the service and could result in patient safety risks by not remunerating sufficient time to undertake a consultation.  Supply of varenicline under a PGD cannot be considered equivalent to a supply of NRT under a level 1 service.

Given this, Community Pharmacy South Yorkshire (CPSY) does not support the Varenicline PGD supply service under the existing fee structure and we strongly advise that you do not attend the training until the matter of fees is resolved. We also strongly advise contractors not to sign up for this element of the service at this time.

If SWYT reconsiders its position and offers a more appropriate fee that better reflects the professional input required, CPSY will reconsider our support for the service and will provide an update to contractors at this time.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to info@cpsy.org.uk if you require further clarification. We will continue to advocate on your behalf and will update you on any further developments.