For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Autumn 2023 COVID-19 & Seasonal Influenza Community Pharmacy Vaccine Service (CPVS)
Dear Contractor
SUMMARY
PGDs are now available on the BSO website. The PGD for COVID-19 can be found here and the PGD for influenza can be found here.
The COVID-19 PGD is not valid until 18th September. No COVID vaccines can therefore be administered before this date under the CPVS service.
Orders for QIVc have exceeded the anticipated volumes required by community pharmacy. Quotas have therefore been put in place. Any orders above the levels stated below need prior approval from SPPG. The quotas in place are:
5 boxes (50 doses) for pharmacies vaccinating Care Homes.
1 box (10) for pharmacies vaccinating walk-in patients.
Please note the seasonal influenza programme for 23/24 does not include patients aged 50-64yrs (unless in an at-risk category – see eligibility criteria).
ACTION
Please ensure this information is shared with relevant members of your pharmacy team.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has today issued correspondence (HERE) dated 8 September 2023 extending the expiry date of Serious Shortage Protocol SSP058.
Effective from 21 August 2023, SSP058 enables community pharmacists to supply patients with one EpiPen® 300mcg / 0.3ml solution for injection auto-injector pen for every Jext® 300mcg / 0.3ml solution for injection auto-injector pen originally prescribed. Note: it is important that the patient / carer / guardian understands how to administer an Epipen® 300mcg / 0.3ml solution for injection auto-injector pen when making a supply under this SSP.
The expiry date for SSP058 has been extended to Friday 20 October 2023.
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 version of the existing SSP which is 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 dated 8 September 2023 and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of the specific details relating to SSP058; 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 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
This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.
This website is a platform which encourages patients to share their experiences of health or care services and is an opportunity for patients attending community pharmacies to provide their own feedback.
If you have a patient who has expressed particular thanks to your pharmacy team for the care and support received, please make them aware of this website. By doing so, it can help to raise the profile of the community pharmacy network and give recognition to some of the interactions which happen every day in a pharmacy.
Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF Gerard Greene Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
In June CPNI shared correspondence from SPPG inviting contractors and their teams to participate in a collaborative workshop focusing on reducing the prescribing of high dose opioids in the management of chronic non-cancer pain. It was recognised that attendance at the in-person workshop in August was challenging for community pharmacy teams.
For those who were unable to attend, the slides from the workshop are available here. The Opioid Improvement project team have advised CPNI that they are considering other ways to engage with community pharmacy to ensure they are fully informed. Further details will be provided when they become available.
Joint correspondence issued on 04 September from Professor Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, NI and Dr Aideen Keaney, Director for HSCQI Hub and Network, explaining the background and purpose of the HSCQI Opioid Improvement Collaborative Programme. The correspondence also outlines how healthcare staff and teams can register to be involved in project teams.
Summary
Northern Ireland is the highest prescriber of opioids across the four UK regions.
The evidence for using opioids, particularly strong opioids, in chronic non-malignant pain is insufficient to justify either their use for this indication or the high levels of usage that we see in NI.
The opioid improvement collaborative programme will create the conditions for a shared regional approach for both Primary and Secondary Care teams to learn and apply quality improvement methodology to improving the management of non-malignant pain.
The programme aims to encourage the establishment of project teams.
Project teams are invited from both Primary Care (e.g. GP Practices, Community Pharmacies or joint working initiatives) and Trusts (both inpatient and outpatient settings).
Projects should identify an improvement opportunity related to initiating, monitoring, reviewing, reducing or stopping high risk opioid prescribing for non-malignant pain.
Should you have any queries please contact a member of the CPNI team.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
SPPG issued correspondence on 05 September to all community pharmacies regarding the regional roll out of NIECR.
Summary
NIECR is a healthcare system which allows professionals such as community pharmacists to review a patient’s care record. At present a small cohort of community pharmacists have existing access to NIECR for the purpose of providing the Pharmacy First Service for Uncomplicated Lower Urinary Tract Infections (UTI’s).
The SPPG have developed a rollout plan to facilitate additional community pharmacist access to the NIECR system.
Rollout will be initiated in a phased approach in September 2023 starting with large multiples then small multiples, independents by LCG area and locums. This is the most efficient way of progressing rollout for SPPG.
CPNI have been given a commitment by SPPG that rollout will be progressed across the network as soon as possible.
Rollout will be initiated through Business Support teams in local SPPG offices.
The NIECR system can be accessed through the Community Pharmacy Portal (after login credentials have been provided). Training material and guidance will be made available for NIECR users via the BSO website and the Primary Care Intranet. Further information will be provided as rollout is progressed.
Action
Review the correspondence and bring to the attention of relevant members within your pharmacy team.
Await further information from SPPG.
Should you have any queries please contact a member of the CPNI team.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
SPPG issued correspondence on 06 September providing details of the COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza vaccination programme for Autumn 23.
Summary
The Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service (CPVS) COVID-19 & Seasonal Influenza – Autumn 2023 will officially begin on 18th September 2023.
All contractors have the opportunity to participate in this service on submission of signed contracts (Appendix 1 COVID & Appendix 2 Flu which are included in the service letter).
Community pharmacies will offer the COVID and Flu vaccines to those aged 18 years and above in the following eligible groups:
aged 65 years or older,
those under 65 who are clinically at risk – based on evidence supplied by the patient such as a GP letter, hospital letter or medication etc,
Immunosuppressed patients and their household contacts aged 18 to 64 years who provide evidence of eligibility by way of correspondence from their GP,
frontline health and social care staff (as set out in the Green Book definition),
pregnant women,
carers who seek vaccination (as set out in the Green Book definition).
Details on the vaccines to be used in the service are included in the service letter.
The service specifications and PGDs are available at the BSO and PCI.
Community pharmacies who have completed their contract can place orders for COVID-19 Comirnaty BA.4/5 [vaccine] and Flu- aQIV (65yrs and over) & QIVc (under 65yrs) with Movianto from 11th September,in preparation for the start date on 18th September.
Details of the service remuneration are contained in the service letter.
Further details on the regional COVID-19 and Influenza vaccination programme can be found in the relevant letters from the Chief Medical Officer.
Any queries regarding access to the Vaccine Management System (VMS) should be directed to tom.coyle@hscni.net.
Review the correspondence and bring to the attention of relevant members within your pharmacy team.
Those wishing to participate in this service should return a completed contract by secure email to their local SPPG office by 5pm Wednesday 13th September.
Should you have any queries please contact a member of the CPNI team.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
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