Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework
Participation is a mandatory requirement of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework. Pharmacies must demonstrate compliance to meet their contractual duties and avoid breaching service requirements.
Contractors across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent ICB are required to participate in the local health campaign which, this year, is the promotion of the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS).
Engagement with the campaign is essential for several reasons:
- Pharmacies play a frontline role in promoting healthy behaviours, early intervention and reducing health inequalities.
- Strengthens the role of community pharmacy. Active participation reinforces pharmacy’s position as a key public‑health provider and supports the sector’s long‑term strategic role within the NHS.
- Will improve patient awareness and understanding of the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service
- .Will support bundling requirements in March 2026, where a specified number of contraception consultations will be required to achieve the monthly Pharmacy First threshold payment.
Campaign Period: 2nd March to 31st March 2026
Action Required by Contractors
Pharmacy contractors, including DSPs, can meet the requirements of this local health campaign over this period in several ways. It could include any of the following to promote access to contraception:
- By displaying posters, leaflets or other promotional materials relating to contraception at the pharmacy;
- Via information on a pharmacy’s website;
- Via information posted on a pharmacy’s social media channels;
- By including information on the service in emails or SMS messages sent to patients.
Existing contraception and PCS promotional materials or content that are already used in the pharmacy, on a pharmacy’s website or on a pharmacy’s social media channels would meet the requirements for the campaign.
For any pharmacies that do not have contraception marketing materials already in use, a range of resources can be accessed as below, to promote the service.
Compliance Requirement
1st April to 15th April 2026, confirm participation in this mandatory campaign, through the completion of this simple form Community Pharmacy Contraception Health Campaign – Fill in form
Campaign Resources
Social media copy and assets to increase public awareness that pharmacies can provide oral emergency contraception for free, without seeing their GP can be accessed here.
Posters such as a locally developed Contraception Service Poster and resources to promote the contraception service are available to download via this link: NHS England — Midlands » Resources. Printable posters and digital posters are available in different languages e.g. Bengali, Polish, Punjabi, Urdu on CPE’s website Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS) – Community Pharmacy England.
Support Guides
To support the delivery of the service, there are some resources below:
- Key Highlights 10-Top-Tips-for-Contraception-Service-December-2025.pdf – Quick, practical insights to help ensure high-quality service delivery.
- Detailed Guidance Sheet Top-Tips-Guidance-Pharmacy-Contraception-Service-DECEMBER-2025.pdf – Comprehensive information to support pharmacy teams in delivering the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service effectively.
All the published Top Tips and Guides for Community Pharmacy Teams are available online NHS England — Midlands » Pharmacy in the Midlands
