Changes to the Reporting of Temporary Suspensions

From 1 June 2026, the Manage Your Service (MYS) will be the only route to notify ICBs of temporary suspensions/closures.

NHS England has announced that it was giving advance notice of changes to the approved manner of reporting temporary suspensions of service or likely temporary suspensions of service (temporary closures) to ICBs. The changes will be made to the approved particulars for 1 June.

NHS England indicated that, currently, pharmacy owners can report via the Manage Your Service (MYS) platform or send an email notification to their ICB. However, from 1 June, MYS will be the only submission method, and pharmacy owners must use it from that date. Once reported via MYS, pharmacy owners do not need to follow up with an email or further notification to their ICB.

The Terms of Service require NHS community pharmacy owners to have a business continuity plan for temporary suspensions/closures due to illness or other reasons beyond their control and to action the plan when necessary. One of the required actions in the event of a temporary suspension/closure is to notify your ICB.

The MYS portal has been available to notify temporary suspensions/closures since September 2024. It can be updated with one or more temporary suspensions and remains editable for 7 days after submission. The submission can also be deleted if there is no subsequent suspension/closure.

More information on managing unplanned temporary suspensions (including resources to prepare for these) can be found on CPE here.