Government Response: The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025

Technical Scrutiny point 1:                         The Welsh Government acknowledges that there remain instances where the abbreviation “ETP” is used in the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (“2020 Regulations”) which have not been captured by the amendments made by these Regulations. Given “ETP” has been a previously used defined term and is well understood within Community Pharmacy, the Welsh Government considers the limited instances where it remains within the 2020 Regulations will be understood by those using the Regulations. The opportunity to clarify the terminology will be taken when further amendments to the 2020 Regulations are planned in summer 2025.

Technical Scrutiny point 2:                         The Welsh Government acknowledges that the correct terms should be “cyfarpar rhestredig offthalmig” and “meddyginiaeth restredig offthalmig” in all cases as per the amendment made by regulation 2(2) of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024. However, we do not believe that the inconsistent use of the terms will affect the understanding or interpretation of the Regulations. We will undertake to amend the relevant regulations alongside the further amendments planned in summer 2025.