Welcome to the CPS eNewsletter for February 2016. It's been an exciting few weeks as we've just launched our new brand and website...
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Welcome

In the office we are busy with the 2016 CPS Elections which are taking place in May. A reminder about the elections can be found below. We also launched our latest Vision Newsletter to all our members, you will have received a copy in the post and an electronic copy is available on our website for you to view.

As always, if you have any feedback or questions for us please do get in touch.

Monthly Downloads for February 2016

Elections reminder
Nomination forms for Community Pharmacy Health Board local elections were sent out to pharmacies in January. The cut off for nominations to be received at Community Pharmacy Scotland offices is 6pm on Wednesday 10th February 2016.

Thereafter, where a local election is triggered, voting papers will be sent on Wednesday 17th February and should be returned before the cut off at 6pm on Thursday 17th March.

Up to two pharmacist associate members of CPS can be appointed to the local committee. Further information on the application process will be included in our Associate Member newsletter this month. For any questions on the election process, please contact the office.

Training Grants
Circular PCA(P)(2015)19 details the support available to contractors for staff training for support staff. The courses for which support funding is available are:

Pharmacy Services Level 2 : NVQ/SVQ;
Pharmacy Services Level 3 : NVQ/SVQ;
Acccredited Checking Technician: NPA Accuracy in Dispensing Training Module or equivalent; and
SQA Higher National (HN) unit: Procedures for Pharmacy Dispensary Checking Technicians.

Contractors should complete Annex A to the circular and return with the required documentation by 29th February 2016.

Circular PCA(PA)(2015)27 explains funding available for Pharmacist Assistant training for 2015/16. Again contractors should complete Annex A to this circular and return by 31st March 2016. There was an error in email address given in the original version of this circular.
Please use pharmacy@nes.scot.nhs.uk

Changes to Online Reporting Portal
We have been informed that National Services Scotland has upgraded to a new version of Business Objects, the system used to access online reporting for contractors. Version 3 of the reporting tool is no longer supported and is now unavailable.
The new website to access the system is https://www.bo.scot.nhs.uk/BOE/BI

To help contractors familiarise themselves with the new system, a user guide has been provided.

Any previous reports scheduled to run in the previous version will no longer run and will need to be set up again. Help to do this can be found in this guide.

Vision Newsletter
Our latest Vision newsletter has been published and sent to pharmacies. Vision 34 contains information on Out of Hours– next steps, the new arrangements for flu vaccine provision and our office restructure amongst others.

CPS Website
Are you having trouble viewing our website? We've pulled together some top tips for you to make sure you're getting the most from our site.

CPS Manifesto
Have you read our Manifesto yet? Read your copy online

Drug Tariff

All details correct at time of publication (1/2/2016). Please check our website for the latest information.