Reminder: PQS Palliative Care Gateway Requirement
Pharmacy owners taking part in the 2026/27 Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS) must meet three Gateway requirements to qualify for a PQS payment:
- Complete the Palliative Care Questionnaire
- Be a pharmacy palliative care medication stockholder
- Develop an action plan
While most PQS requirements must be completed by 31 March 2027, the Palliative Care Questionnaire has an earlier deadline and must be submitted by 31 December 2026.
Failure to complete the questionnaire by this date will mean pharmacy owners are ineligible to claim a PQS payment. In addition, any Aspiration payment claimed in July 2026 will be recovered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).
What pharmacy owners need to do
- Complete and submit the Palliative Care Questionnaire via the NHSBSA’s Manage Your Service (MYS) portal.
- Keep the confirmation email received after submission as evidence that the questionnaire has been successfully completed.
- If a confirmation email is not received within one hour, check your junk folder first. If it is still missing, contact the NHSBSA Provider Assurance Team immediately at pharmacysupport@nhsbsa.nhs.uk.
Guidance on meeting the remaining two Gateway requirements is available on the Community Pharmacy England PQS webpage.
Summary: Pharmacy owners must complete the Palliative Care Questionnaire by 31 December 2026. Missing this deadline will prevent a PQS claim and may result in recovery of any Aspiration payment received.
