Opening Hours

Any changes to core or supplementary hours need to be communicated to the ICB at hweicbhv.pharmacy@nhs.net

Core Hours

Pharmacy owners who want to change their core contractual hours (core opening hours) must apply to the ICB: Core opening hours. This is an application process, not a notification process, and changes can only be made if approved. The ICB is required to determine applications within 60 days, and any approved changes can only be implemented 30 days after approval.

Since 23 June 2025, there are two application routes for changing core opening hours:

• Existing application route (para 24(1) of Schedule 4 of the PLPS regulations) – for applications to reduce the total number of core opening hours or to rearrange existing core hours. The ICB will consider whether the proposed changes maintain the necessary level of pharmaceutical service provision or, where appropriate, a sustainable level of adequate provision.
• New application route (para 26(2ZB) of Schedule 4 of the PLPS regulations) – for applications to rearrange existing core opening hours without changing the total weekly core hours. The ICB will consider whether patients who usually use the pharmacy are likely to benefit overall from the proposed opening hours by making services more accessible.

Pharmacy owners must specify which application route they are applying under. Applications should include all relevant supporting information and evidence, such as patient demand, local service provision, nearby pharmacy opening hours, changes to GP opening hours, and (where relevant) evidence of the business needs and economic viability of the pharmacy.

If an application is refused, the pharmacy owner has a right of appeal through the Primary Care Appeals Service.

Following approval, pharmacy owners must update their opening hours on their NHS website profile and Directory of Services (DoS) profile using the NHS Profile Manager.

Supplementary Hours

Pharmacy owners wishing to change their supplementary opening hours are required to notify the relevant ICB. This is not an application process, and ICB approval is not required, provided the correct notice is given:

• To increase supplementary opening hours, notification must be given to the ICB before the change takes effect (there is no minimum notice period).
• To decrease supplementary opening hours, at least five weeks’ notice must be given to the ICB before the change is implemented.

Pharmacy owners are encouraged to give the ICB as much notice of changes as they can of any changes to supplementary opening hours: Supplementary hours.

Requests to change core or supplementary hours should be sent to Central East ICB using the following email address: hweicbhv.pharmacy@nhs.net.

Pharmacy closures

For information on temporary pharmacy closures, including notification requirements and business continuity guidance, please visit our Pharmacy Closures webpage.