Archives: Contractor Email

This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.

CPNI ALERTS

• Fifth Concessionary Prices – August 2025 29 August 2025
• Fourth Concessionary Prices – August 2025 28 August 2025
• Fully Funded Training Opportunities for Community Pharmacy Staff 27 August 2025
• Third Concessionary Prices – August 2025 27 August 2025
• AVAILABILITY OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS USED IN TUBERCULOSIS (TB) 26 August 2025

DOH(NI) ALERTS

• Alert to Community Pharmacies – MISSING PRESCRIPTION(S) – Gabapentin 400mg Capsules – Dated 15/08/2025 29 August 2025

BSO ALERTS

• Weekly Drug Alerts are available here.
  • MPS 3416 MMS 2271 – Medicines Defect Information – Various Ipca Laboratories UK Limited 26 August 2025
• Weekly Shortages Information is available here.
  • Repaglinide 500microgram,1mg and 2mg Tablets 27 August 2025
  • AVAILABILITY OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS USED IN TUBERCULOSIS (TB) TREATMENT WITHIN PRIMARY CARE 26 August 2025
• Serious Shortage Protocols are available here.

Falls Prevention Roadshow

CPNI has been made aware of an upcoming Falls Prevention event taking place on Wednesday 17th September 2025.  The event will take place in Ikea, Belfast between 11am and 2pm (drop-in).  The event is hosted by the Community Falls Prevention and Management Service and is open to patients, members of the public and healthcare staff.  Further information is available here.

Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s Contractor Calendar and Contractor Emails.

Or report medicine shortages, pricing and staffing issues via CPNI’s Medicine Pricing/Supply Reporter and Situation Reporter.

Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).

Kind regards

Dear Colleague

The fifth update of concessionary prices were granted today for August 2025:

Drug	Pack Size	Concessionary Price
Nefopam 30mg tablets	90	£4.09
Olanzapine 10mg tablets	28	£4.99
Olanzapine 2.5mg tablets	28	£3.51
Olanzapine 20mg tablets	28	£4.99
Olanzapine 7.5mg tablets	28	£1.25
Propranolol 80mg modified-release capsules	28	£5.94
Repaglinide 1mg tablets	90	£11.76

Concessionary prices will be paid against the usual code, no additional endorsements are needed.

Please continue to notify CPNI of any pricing issues you are experiencing via our Medicine Pricing/Supply Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

Dear Colleague

The fourth update of concessionary prices were granted today for August 2025:

Drug	Pack Size	Concessionary Price
Acetazolamide 250mg tablets	112	£51.02
Amiodarone 100mg tablets	28	£2.24
Amiodarone 200mg tablets	28	£4.82
Buprenorphine 2mg sublingual tablets sugar free	7	£1.83
Carbocisteine 250mg/5ml oral solution	300	£4.99
Co-amoxiclav 250mg/62mg/5ml oral suspension	100	£4.64
Erythromycin 250mg gastro-resistant tablets	28	£3.02
Exemestane 25mg tablets	30	£10.74
Febuxostat 80mg tablets	28	£5.07
Imipramine 10mg tablets	28	£2.49
Indapamide 2.5mg tablets	28	£6.11
Isosorbide mononitrate 40mg tablets	56	£4.65
Ivabradine 2.5mg tablets	56	£31.83
Lactulose 3.1-3.7g/5ml oral solution	500	£5.80
Letrozole 2.5mg tablets	28	£3.27
Levothyroxine sodium 12.5microgram tablets	28	£11.45
Lofepramine 70mg tablets	56	£24.27
Mefenamic acid 500mg tablets	28	£35.10
Midazolam 10mg/2ml solution for injection ampoules	10	£5.58
Naftidrofuryl 100mg capsules	84	£10.23
Nitrazepam 5mg tablets	28	£1.88
Nortriptyline 25mg tablets	100	£2.83
Nystatin 100,000units/ml oral suspension	30	£9.32
Oxytetracycline 250mg tablets	28	£10.50
Pioglitazone 30mg tablets	28	£4.99
Pioglitazone 45mg tablets	28	£24.62
Piroxicam 0.5% gel	112	£3.75
Pivmecillinam 200mg tablets	10	£7.78
Pregabalin 300mg tablets	56	£10.36
Prucalopride 2mg tablets	28	£8.91
Pyridostigmine bromide 60mg tablets	200	£16.28
Risperidone 500microgram tablets	20	£3.66
Rosuvastatin 15mg tablets	28	£3.54
Sitagliptin 100mg/5ml oral solution sugar free	150	£23.41
Trimethoprim 100mg tablets	28	£4.22
Trimethoprim 200mg tablets	6	£1.50
Trimethoprim 200mg tablets	14	£3.51
Venlafaxine 225mg modified-release capsules	28	£19.18
Water for injections 10ml ampoules	10	£2.57

Concessionary prices will be paid against the usual code, no additional endorsements are needed.

Please continue to notify CPNI of any pricing issues you are experiencing via our Medicine Pricing/Supply Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor

CPNI has been made aware of a fully funded Level 2 Diploma in Pharmacy Services training programme which is open to eligible community pharmacy staff members in Northern Ireland.

SUMMARY

• Further information on this fully funded training programme is available on the UCA website and the training provider website: Global Horizon Skills. 
• The Level 2 Diploma in Pharmacy Services is supported by the Department for the Economy, meaning there is no cost incurred by the trainee or employer. 
• Employers who enrol a staff member in the programme are provided with additional funding incentive of £670 per successful trainee. Further details are outlined in the programme flyer.
• The programme booklet, with further details on the course criteria, delivery, content, and assessment is available here.
• Enrolment for the Autumn intake will remain open until Friday 5th September 2025, with training due to commence on Wednesday 24th September 2025.
• Queries and expressions of interest can be sent to catherine@ghskills.com or jade@ghskills.com.

ACTION

• Contractors who wish to learn more about funded training opportunities for pharmacy staff can read the information linked above and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team.

Kind regards

Dear Colleague

The third update of concessionary prices were granted today for August 2025:

Drug	Pack Size	Concessionary Price
Betamethasone 500microgram soluble tablets sugar free	100	£31.95
Bumetanide 1mg tablets	28	£2.94
Buprenorphine 8mg sublingual tablets sugar free	7	£6.00
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg effervescent tablets	32	£2.40
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg effervescent tablets	100	£7.51
Conjugated oestrogens 300microgram / Medroxyprogesterone 1.5mg modified-release tablets	84	£34.13
Fenofibrate micronised 267mg capsules	28	£6.10
Fexofenadine 180mg tablets	30	£5.21
Fusidic acid 1% modified-release eye drops	5	£35.00
Methylphenidate 5mg tablets	30	£6.53
Morphine sulfate 10mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules	10	£4.53
Nabumetone 500mg tablets	56	£75.50
Nicotine 21mg/24hours transdermal patches	7	£10.05
Oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free	250	£8.89
Pregabalin 150mg tablets	56	£7.73
Pregabalin 50mg tablets	84	£5.51
Prochlorperazine 3mg buccal tablets	50	£17.68
Propantheline bromide 15mg tablets	112	£101.98

Concessionary prices will be paid against the usual code, no additional endorsements are needed.

Please continue to notify CPNI of any pricing issues you are experiencing via our Medicine Pricing/Supply Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor

SPPG have issued correspondence regarding the availability of antimicrobial agents used in tuberculosis (TB).

SUMMARY

The letter provides additional advice and guidance on the actions to take within general practices and community pharmacies to maintain essential patient access to treatment with anti-tuberculosis (TB) medicines.  The advice in this letter should be used in conjunction with the updated National Patient Safety Alert issued on 1 August 2025 until the supply disruptions are resolved.

ACTION

Community pharmacists should read the contents of the letter and share with relevant members of the community pharmacy team.

Any further updates will be shared as they become available.

Kind regards