On Tuesday 15 April 2025 the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI met to consider the responses to the consultation on annual retention fees.

After much consideration, Council agreed:

• to the proposed rise in annual retention fees from £398 to £477;
• that annual retention notices will in future be sent out via email, with the option for registrants to request a paper copy should they prefer; and
• to offer registrants the option of paying their annual retention fee in four instalments by direct debit.

The changes detailed above require amendments to legislation and approval by the Department of Health. This process will require a delay in the normal retention period and as such our Council further agreed to delay the 2025/26 annual retention process until later in 2025 with a preliminary date of 1 August 2025 envisaged.

As a result of feedback from a large proportion of respondents to the consultation, Council also agreed to commence a process to consider alternatives to the standard retention fee – with the future possibility that not all pharmacists would be required to pay the same amount – although this would not be completed in time for any possible changes to be enacted for the 2025/26 annual retention process as this would require a scoping exercise, public consultation and a further legislative change. We will keep registrants abreast of any developments in this exercise.

Any pharmacist who is on our register on or before 31 May 2025 will be required to complete the 2025/26 retention process once the new date is confirmed, and will pay the new retention fee.

Persons who seek to join our register from 1 June 2025 onwards will not be subject to the 2025/26 annual retention process and won’t have to pay their retention fee until the 2026/27 fee is due. They will be required to pay a registration fee.

We appreciate the increase in retention fee will not be welcomed by most pharmacists. Our Council recognises the concern of registrants but needs to set fees at a level which secures our financial sustainability whilst ensuring optimal organisational performance. Unfortunately, the increase is required. There was strong support for the implementation of an option to pay fees in instalments and it is hoped this will help reduce the burden of the fee increase. The changes to the notification methods will result in efficiencies within the Pharmaceutical Society NI and we will strive to implement further efficiencies within our processes.  As a result of further feedback from the consultation we have made a commitment to enhancing transparency on how monies are spent.

The Council’s full response is available here.

Please see below for a complete list of documents considered by Council before making these difficult decisions. We encourage everyone interested to take time to read these documents.

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

CPD SUBMISSION DATES REMAIN UNCHANGED, AND PHARMACISTS MUST COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THEIR CPD PORTFOLIOS BY 31 MAY 2025. Click here to work on your CPD portfolio.

We will be hosting a free CPD webinar designed to furnish you with the necessary information to comply fully with the CPD framework for 2024/25. See below:

CPD Webinar: Wed 30 April 2025
CPD Webinar: Mon 12 May 2025

APPLICATIONS FOR EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 30 APRIL 2025. GO TO Extenuating Circumstances – Pharmaceutical Society NI FOR FULL DETAILS

If you have any questions regarding the annual retention process, please email registration@psni.org.uk.

If you have any questions regarding the CPD submission process, please email cpd@psni.org.uk

We will update you on any developments in these proposed changes, and the time of the annual retention process as soon as they are available.