Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS)
Initial details of the Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS) 2025/26 were released on 31st March 2025, as part of the arrangements for the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) in 2024/25 and 2025/26. See the announcement here. The PQS began on 1st April 2025. See the CPE PQS Hub here for full details.
A summarised list of newly published resources to support pharmacy contractors with this year’s PQS can be found here.
Aspiration Payment Claim Window Open
Pharmacy owners are now able to make a claim for an Aspiration Payment on the NHS Business Services Authority’s Manage Your Service (MYS) portal. Those who wish to claim must do so before 11.59pm on 16th May 2025.
The Aspiration Payment is optional; if pharmacy owners do not want to claim it, it will not impact on the pharmacy owner’s ability to claim a PQS payment during the declaration period. There is also no requirement to have claimed for a previous PQS to claim an Aspiration payment for PQS 2025/26.
Pharmacy owners should review the requirements of the PQS 2025/26, decide which domains they intend to meet when they make their PQS declaration (between 9am on 2nd February and 11.59pm on 27th February 2026) and declare this on the MYS portal.
Pharmacy owners will be paid their Aspiration payment on 1st July 2025.
CPPE – Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS) Tracker and e-Learning!
The CPPE PQS webpage is now live! Once logged in, this page includes a PQS Tracker to help community pharmacy professionals quickly determine which CPPE learning programmes and assessments they have completed within the specified timeframe.
This will support you in achieving criteria relating to the medicines optimisation and patient safety domains in the PQS 2025/26. This year’s PQS includes a stipulation that may require staff to repeat previously completed training and e-assessments. This will depend on the stated validity period and completion dates.
VirtualOutcomes – PQS e-Learning
VirtualOutcomes has released new e-Learning modules on the new Pharmacy Funding Contract and PQS!
PQS 2025/26 Part 1 & 2 – These modules will help you understand the funding model including the aspiration payment, the training requirements including the validity periods that apply, what teams need to do to meet the gateway and the criteria that make up the 2 domains and how to meet them. See the flyer here.
Outcomes from Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS) 2021/22 – Please see the documents below summarising the outcomes of the 2021/22 PQS delivered by pharmacies across West Yorkshire.
Outcomes of the PQS 2021/22 Briefing
Outcomes of the PQS 2021/22 Infographic
Last Updated: 25th April 2025
