Assignment of Locum Code to Pharmacy staff
The FFFFF code is used by qualified locum pharmacy staff and pharmacy technicians to operate EPS
Release 2 functionality. This enables a Pharmacist or a Pharmacy Technician to have one position to
provide locum support at different dispensing sites where it is not practical to assign them to individual
Pharmacy ODS location codes and commence in a single period when RA services are unavailable,
thereby mitigating patient safety risks.
However, the FFFFF code must not be approved to staff not qualified as pharmacists or pharmacy
technicians.
On assignment of the FFFFF code, pharmacy staff and pharmacy technicians can operate
within the entire country. Certificates are normally granted with a 1 year expiry date where
there are no other access rights on the card enabling access to a specific pharmacy.
The following diagram shows the governance structure for requesting locum access.
Locum
Submit letter & form requesting FFFFF
code (& smartcard if required
Qualification
checked + access
signed off
NHSE forward to
YHCS for card
update
Access granted for
1 year & card
updated
NHS England
Area Team
Not approved
Locum notified by
NHS England
Locum to take
necessary action
and resubmit
Smartcard Appointments:
If NHS England authorise the request they will notify YHCS and the locum code will be added to
the card remotely. The access will be available for the locum from this point.
Smartcard queries should be emailed to:
YHCS.Smartcards@nhs.net
NHS England contact details for Locum sponsorship queries:
Senior Primary Care Manager
NHS England - North (Yorkshire & the Humber)
Oak House, Moorhead Way, Bramley, Rotherham S66 1YY
Carolyn Ogle:
Tel: 0113 8253359
Garry Charlesworth
Tel: 0113 8253380
Mobile: 07918368400
Email: Carolyn.ogle@nhs.net
Mobile: 07918 368 355
Email: garry.charlesworth@nhs.net