Discharge Medicines Service (DMS)
Background and Overview
The Discharge Medicines Service (DMS) became a new Essential service From February 2021.
Further information can be found via: Discharge Medicines Service – Community Pharmacy England (cpe.org.uk)
The following key documents have now been published. All staff members involved in delivering this service should read these and complete the actions below before providing the service.
- NHSE&I Regulations – Read the section on DMS
- DMS Toolkit – Read this document
- CPPE NHS Discharge Medicines Service eLearning and assessment – Complete this training
- DMS briefing for pharmacy teams – Your team should be briefed on the service using this document
- CPE: DMS Implementation Checklist – This list can be used to ensure you have completed all steps required to provide this service, including putting an SOP in place
The claim period for the Discharge Medicines Service (DMS) has been extended to three months from July 2024.
Learn more about this change and view an example of the new claim and payment timeline
| Trust | Current Status |
| Royal Bolton | Live (since June 2020) |
| Salford Royal | Live (since Feb 2019) |
| Tameside | Live (since March 2020) |
| Stockport | Live (since May 2020) |
| Wigan | Live (since March 2021) |
| GMMH | In progress |
| Pennine Care | In progress |
| MFT (MRI/Wythenshawe/Trafford)
This includes; North Manchester general hospital, Manchester royal infirmary, Wythenshawe hospital, Royal Manchester children’s hospital, Manchester royal eye hospital, Saint Mary’s hospital, University dental hospital of Manchester, Withington community hospital, Trafford general hospital, Altrincham hospital |
Live (since April 2022) |
| Pennine Acute
This includes; Fairfield general hospital, Rochdale infirmary, Birch hill hospital, North Manchester general hospital, Fairfield general hospital |
TBC |
| Christie | TBC |
We are currently working to ensure that trusts not yet live are mobilised soon. We will keep you updated on the status of these via this page.
Please note: Referrals can be received from any locality in GM. As an example, a referral could be sent from Royal Oldham Hospital to a contractor in Wigan.
Contractors providing the full service will be paid a fee of £35.
Where only part of the service can be provided, in certain circumstances defined in the Drug Tariff, contractors will be paid a partial payment.
- CPGM: Discharge Medicines Service (DMS) toolkit – March 2024 – The toolkit outlines how to meet the specification requirements and is a great tool to help you identify any knowledge gaps.
- CPE: DMS Digital Video Guide – This is an alternative way to learn about what required and complements other information and guidance available on CPE’s website.
- CPE: DMS worksheet – This can be used in the pharmacy went completing a DMS
- NHS Discharge Medicines Service: Data Specification
- GMMH DMS Webinar – This webinar was organised to provide some information about core aims, practical elements to consider and how to support patients with mental health needs
Referrals received can now be processed as per the following guidance:
Declaration of Competence
DMS Declaration of Competence – This should be completed after you have read the regulations, toolkit and completed the CPPE eLearning and assessment (please see key documents section above)
Virtual Outcomes
All contractors in Greater Manchester have free access to a range of training modules to help to deliver pharmacy services. Courses for DMS have recently been updated
To access this Virtual Outcomes training:
- Visit https://www.virtualoutcomes.co.uk/pharmacy-training/
- Enter your pharmacy F Code
- Click on the training menu for the course you wish to view. You may need to use the search bar at the top if the course doesn’t appear in the list
- Click “Start Course”
- Complete the registration form
