Smoking Cessation Service (SCS)
The Smoking Cessation Service (SCS) was commissioned as an Advanced service from March 2022.
Further information can be found via: Smoking Cessation service – Community Pharmacy England (cpe.org.uk)
The following key documents have now been published. Please read these documents before providing the service.
- Service specification – (Updated to reflect that Pharmacy technicians are now able to deliver SCS)
- Service Directions – This provides the legal basis for the provision of the service.
- Determination – This document includes information on the upfront payments and service fees
- Standard Treatment Programme (STP) – Please read this in full as it is one of training requirements
- SCS – Guide for Locums – This can be used to provide locums with all of the key information they need
Please ensure all of your pharmacy team, including locums are aware that you are providing the service and have completed the relevant training.
To successfully deliver the service, pharmacy teams should ensure the following:
- PharmOutcomes is checked regularly throughout the day for referrals. This task can be carried out by any member of the pharmacy team
- Patient follow ups must be completed within the 5-day window of receiving the referral. This task can be carried out by any member of the pharmacy team as the aim of this part of the process is to explain to the patient what the service is, what they can expect and to arrange an appointment with the pharmacist at a time convenient for the patient and the pharmacist involved
N.B there is a significant risk of patients running out of NRT or starting smoking again if the pharmacy does not contact the patient in a timely manner
Withdrawing from the service
If you have signed up to deliver the service but are no longer able to participate, you will need to deregister for the service with MYS, giving 1 months’ notice:
Please reject any referrals you cannot manage in PharmOutcomes so the patient can be referred to another pharmacy for support
The GM ICS and CPPB are working on the implementation of the SCS Advanced service. Please see the planned rollout dates for trusts below. We encourage contractors to ensure they are signed and ready to deliver the SCS service in preparation for the service rollout. These are the approximate dates and are subject to change.
Briefings
Service toolkits
- CPGM SCS toolkit – January 2024– This outlines how to meet the service specification requirements and is a great tool to help you identify any knowledge gaps
Webinars
GM Healthcare Academy hosted a series of webinars. These were each supported by the CSU and a Lead CURE Nurse from a GM Hospital.
- SCS webinar – March 2023 – Supported by Tameside ICFT
- SCS webinar – January 2023 – Supported by Salford Royal
- SCS webinar – January 2023 – Supported by The Christie
- SCS webinar – January 2023 – Supported by The Christie
- SCS webinar – November 2023 – Supported by Northern Care Alliance And Manchester Foundation Trust
- SCS webinar – September 2022 – Supported by Royal Bolton Hospital
- SCS patient flow diagram
- SCS Patient & Data Flow
- Video showing how to use the PharmOutcomes modules associated with this service
- Smoking Cessation Service (SCS) March 2023 – Deployment update
- GMMMG Tobacco Dependency Treatment Guideline
- UKMI Smoking and Medicines Interactions
- Patient Leaflet for SCS referrals to Community Pharmacy
- SCS CURE team contacts for GM