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The service specification for the community pharmacy flu vaccination advanced service and PSNC's accompanying guidance have now been published.

The document explains what contractors need to do to offer the service including:

• How to confirm that their premises are appropriate
• Pharmacist training and declaration of competence requirements
• Data capture and sharing of information
• Vaccine storage
• Gaining patient consent
• GP notification
• Claiming payments.

PSNC says its guidance document will support the preparation process and includes a checklist which contractors can work through to ensure they have everything they need in place.

€This is very exciting for community pharmacy,€ says Alastair Buxton, PSNC director of NHS services. €The advanced service represents a big step forward as we work to develop community pharmacy's role in the NHS, and it is important that we make the most of this opportunity to show what a difference we can make.€

Note that before contractors could start providing the service, the Department of Health has still to amend the Secretary of State Directions, giving the legal basis for the service; NHS England needed to publish the national patient group direction; and the NHS BSA had to make available the declaration via which contractors notify NHS England of their intention to start providing NHS flu vaccinations.

Contractors may also want to check the latest information from their LPC as in many areas they have worked with the local NHS England team to put IT systems in place to support provision of the service, he says. A range of resources to promote the service to patients are available at psnc.org.uk/flu.