Funding & services England
Remote NMS and contraception: different rules for different services
NMS and the Pharmacy Contraception Service both permit remote consultations in appropriate circumstances. Their staffing and premises rules differ, so a single 'remote pharmacist' policy is not enough.
Separate the channel from the staffing contract
There are two decisions in a remote service: whether the patient can be assessed using the chosen channel, and whether the proposed professional and location meet the service's delivery rules. A 'yes' to video does not answer the second question. This distinction is especially important when comparing NMS with contraception.
Begin with a simple service map. Record which pharmacy holds the NHS contract, who delivers each consultation, how they are engaged, where they work and who holds the clinical record. Review each service against its own current requirements. This produces a useful basis for a governance discussion and avoids assumptions based on a generic technology description.
NMS has explicit off-site delivery restrictions
CPE's NMS subcontracting guidance requires an off-site pharmacist to be an employee of the pharmacy owner or another company in the qualifying corporate group, with access to relevant records. The group definition concerns a parent undertaking and its subsidiaries. An independent locum may provide NMS on the pharmacy premises, but not off-site.
It is therefore inaccurate to say that no official guidance addresses off-site NMS. Owners considering additional capacity should establish the employment or group relationship first. A written technology contract, a registered pharmacy at the remote end or access to a video terminal does not by itself resolve that requirement. Do not include unsupported third-party off-site NMS income in the business case.
The NMS patient journey still needs continuity
NMS supports people starting eligible new medicines, with engagement, intervention and follow-up stages. Telephone or video may be appropriate for the conversations. The payment structure recognises completed intervention and follow-up stages, rather than attempted calls or a patient being added to a list.
Book the follow-up while the patient understands its purpose, agree a suitable contact method and give the next clinician enough information to continue the conversation. Build a process for missed contacts and concerns that need further action. The NMS funding guide covers stage payments and the monthly cap without treating every enrolled patient as guaranteed income.
Contraception has its own premises and assessment rules
For the Pharmacy Contraception Service, CPE describes remote telephone or video consultations provided from the pharmacy premises. The routine and emergency contraception elements have different service requirements and payment categories. A remote appointment must still allow the professional to meet the current specification and relevant patient group direction.
Some assessments require measurements or other information that a conversation alone cannot supply. Plan how valid information will be obtained and when an in-person visit is needed. Do not promise a supply when booking; eligibility and the professional assessment determine the outcome. If the consulting professional is proposed to work at a separate site, verify that actual arrangement rather than substituting 'any registered premises' for the service wording.
Build privacy and accessibility into appointments
Ask the patient whether they can speak privately at the scheduled time. A technically secure connection does not guarantee privacy in their home or the consultation room. Think about how another person joining the conversation is identified and whether their involvement reflects the patient's wishes and safeguarding needs.
Provide an accessible alternative for someone who cannot use video or whose needs make the proposed channel unsuitable. Staff should know how to reconnect after a failure, rearrange the appointment and respond to a clinical concern. These are routine parts of running the service, so include them in training rather than leaving them to the first difficult consultation.
Connect records, supply and claims
Set out where the definitive consultation record is created, which communications must reach the GP, who arranges any medicine supply and how the claim is checked. Avoid asking staff to infer completion from the end of a video call. A call can end while a clinical action remains outstanding.
Use separate measures for booked appointments, completed stages or consultations, failed contacts and submitted claims. Review a small sample of journeys with the responsible service lead before expanding capacity. The contraception workflow guide explains the fees and staged startup funding; this comparison focuses on choosing a permissible and workable delivery arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
Can an external off-site pharmacist deliver our NMS consultations?
Third-party off-site subcontracting is not permitted. Check the actual employment and corporate-group relationship against CPE's specific guidance before proceeding.
Must every remote NMS pharmacist work at registered pharmacy premises?
That blanket statement is not an accurate summary of NMS. Apply its specific off-site employment, group and record-access requirements. Contraception and Pharmacy First have their own premises rules.
Are remote consultations guaranteed to result in a payable claim?
No. The service must meet its eligibility, completion, documentation and claiming conditions. Booking a patient or attempting a call is not the same as completing a payable consultation.
Sources & further reading
Checked against the following sources on 1 October 2026. Service rules and payments can change; use the current specification and Drug Tariff when making decisions.
- Community Pharmacy England: NMS subcontracting rules
- Community Pharmacy England: New Medicine Service
- Community Pharmacy England: Pharmacy Contraception Service
- GPhC: guidance for pharmacy services at a distance, February 2025
- NHSBSA: October 2026 Drug Tariff, England service payments
This is business and service-planning information. It does not assess an individual patient, authorise a delivery model or replace local clinical and contractual decisions. Source checking is not a claim of independent clinical review.
Our editorial policy and corrections processMap the right workflow for each service
Discuss your service mix, workforce arrangements and patient journey before planning additional remote capacity.