The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence here dated 1 July 2025 relating to SSP082 and SSP079 (Estradot® 25mcg patches and Estradot® 50mcg patches) extending their expiry dates to Friday 10 October 2025.
BACKGROUND
SSPs made under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 are an additional tool to manage and mitigate medicines shortages.
SSPs enable community pharmacists to supply specified medicines in accordance with a protocol rather than a prescription, without needing to seek authorisation from the prescriber – saving time for patients, pharmacists and prescribers.
Pharmacists should refer to the latest versions of the existing SSPs which are now available on the Business Services Organisation dedicated page on its website HERE.
Operational guidance on the implementation of SSPs in Northern Ireland can be found on the BSO website HERE.
ACTION
Contractors should:
Review the letter here dated 1 July 2025, and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of the extension of the expiry dates of SSP082 and SSP079, and that they are also aware of the specific details relating to these SSPs; and
Note guidance relating to the decision pathways for SSPs; notification of GPs; the need for patient/carer agreement, and action to take when this is not given; professional judgement; and actions regarding unclear quantities.
Contractors are reminded of information issued by BSO ‘Serious Shortage Protocols: Submission Information for Contractors’ which can be accessed here.
Contractors should contact their local SPPG office in the first instance should further information be required. CPNI colleagues are also available for assistance.
Kind regards
Mike
SENT ON BEHALF OF PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY Head of Regulatory Affairs
Dear Colleague
The final update of concessionary prices were granted today for June 2025:
Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF Gerard Greene Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence dated 26 June 2025 regarding the Autumn 2025 COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign. The letter indicates that separate correspondence setting out the arrangements for the seasonal influenza 2025-2026 programme will issue shortly.
SUMMARY
The correspondence includes the following key points:
The COVID-19 Autumn campaign is expected to commence in NI in early October 2025 at the same time as the annual seasonal influenza vaccination programme (exact dates to be confirmed in due course).
It is expected that most vaccinations will be administered by early December 2025 to ensure those considered most at risk are protected.
The COVID-19 campaign is expected to officially close at the end of January 2026 while the seasonal influenza programme is expected to officially close at the end of March 2026.
An operational letter from the PHA Immunisations team will be issued to providers to advise on the start date, vaccine strain, vaccine allocation, stock ordering, quotas, storage and distribution, and professional training resources in due course.
The Autumn 2025 campaign will follow the model that has been in place in recent years, involving a range of providers including General Practice, Community Pharmacy and Trusts.
residents in a care home for older adults (in NI this will apply to all residents of a care home for older adults);
individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed (as defined in the ‘immunosuppression’ sections of tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book)
Adults aged 65 to 74 years of age and people aged under 65 years of age with underlying medical conditions, including pregnant women (apart from those who are immunosuppressed) will not be eligible.
In addition, JCVI does not advise the inclusion of health and social care workers (HSCWs).
The Community Pharmacy Cohorts:
Community Pharmacies will be responsible for vaccination of all care home residents, including mop-up visits. Care home residents are oneof the most vulnerable groups at risk of severe disease and so are high priority for timely vaccination. Community Pharmacies should start vaccinating care homes residents as early in the programme as possible and aim to complete all care homes quickly.
For care homes operated by HSC Trusts, Trusts are asked to ensure that local arrangements are made with Community Pharmacies offering the COVID-19 vaccination service.
Community Pharmacies can also vaccinate anyone:
aged 75 years or older, and
those aged 18 or over who are immunosuppressed – based on evidence supplied by the patient such as a GP letter, hospital letter or medication etc.
ACTION
Contractors providing vaccination services should review and note the DoH correspondence and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team.
CPNI will share further details of the vaccination campaign with contractors as they become available.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The second update of concessionary prices were granted today for June 2025:
Drug
Pack Size
Concessionary Price
Acetazolamide 250mg tablets
112
£75.25
Alendronic acid 70mg tablets
4
£0.99
Buprenorphine 2mg sublingual tablets sugar free
7
£1.48
Buprenorphine 8mg sublingual tablets sugar free
7
£4.59
Carbocisteine 375mg capsules
120
£2.98
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg effervescent tablets
32
£2.41
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg effervescent tablets
100
£7.52
Codeine 15mg/5ml linctus sugar free
200
£7.86
Cyclizine 50mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules
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