The online pharmacy business was previously granted an NHS contract for its second dispensing hub in Leicester by NHS England, but this decision has now been refused by NHS Resolution following an appeal by Lloydspharmacy.

A document published by NHS Resolution on January 21, but only made public yesterday (February 5), reveals that its pharmacy appeals committee has decided to quash the application.

Some of the reasons given for the refusal were that the committee was not satisfied that all essential services were “likely to be secured without interruption during the opening hours”, “secured for persons anywhere in England”, “secured in a safe and effective manner” or “secured without face-to-face contact”.

Pharmacy2U has said that it does not wish to comment further on the decision. Last week (January 27) it told C+D it was “disappointed” that the contract had been held up on appeal.

Lloydspharmacy appeal

According to the NHS Resolution document, Lloydspharmacy appealed against NHS England’s initial decision to grant the application in a letter on September 19 last year.

The grounds of appeal included that NHS England “applied the wrong test” to Pharmacy2U’s application, and that it is “not lawful for NHS England to have approved the application”.

Another reason Lloydspharmacy gave in its appeal was a lack of information around how Pharmacy2U will deliver cold chain items to patient’s homes, and where parcels will be left if a patient is not in.

Commenting on the successful outcome of the appeal, Lloydspharmacy told C+D that it is “important for any new distance selling pharmacy to meet all the regulatory requirements as set out in the relevant regulations and terms of service.”

“If an application fails to meet the standards required it should be refused. We therefore respect the decision of the pharmacy appeals committee,” it added.

The full document outlining NHS Resolution’s decision can be read here.