National Framework Agreement for Clinical Waste Services for GPs and Pharmacies

NHS England is awarding a National Framework Agreement for the provision of Clinical Waste Services for General Practitioners (GPs) and Pharmacies across England. The framework will consolidate the existing fragmented services under an improved and standardised delivery model. NHS England is responsible for arranging the collection and disposal of both the clinical waste from GP Practices and the patient returned medicines from pharmacies. GP Practices who do not have their clinical waste collections arranged by NHS England can claim reimbursement of those costs under Paragraph 46 of the NHS (General Medical Services — Premises Costs) Directions 2013. The disposal of unwanted medicines is one of the Essential Services offered by all pharmacy contractors as part of the NHS Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework, it is therefore the responsibility for NHS England to ensure pharmacies are able to provide this service by arranging suitable waste collection and disposal provision.