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NHS England & Improvement has said more pharmacies may be required to open on this year's May Bank holidays than in normal circumstances, though talks are still ongoing.

In a webinar for community pharmacy contractors last night, NHSE&I primary care strategy director Ed Waller said the data from this year's Easter bank holidays indicated that on May 8 and 25 €we will be in a position where we need more than the usual number of pharmacies to be open over the bank holidays, something akin to Easter€.

The number of scripts processed on Good Friday and Easter Monday was not at a €normal level,€ Mr Waller said, explaining there had been a significant spike. This, along with input from representative bodies in the sector, is €guiding our decision making€ he said.

Giving €fair warning to contractors€ that many would probably be required to open to the public, he said NHSE&I would €seek to agree what is sensible in the same way we did around Easter€ but because talks with PSNC are ongoing he was €not in a position to say today what the precise answer is€.

Pharmacies in England were required to open for three hours on Good Friday and Easter Monday this year at a rate of £250 an hour (Easter opening claims may now be made via the NHS BSA web portal), though some were able to seek exemptions from their local NHSE&I team.

There was widespread frustration at the late announcement of Easter opening requirements and at the lower rate that was initially offered. Mr Waller said NHSE&I was seeking to give more notice for the May bank holidays.

In the webinar, NHSE&I officials thanked pharmacies for their efforts over the Easter holidays and said their services had been €very helpful to patients€.