Archives: Contractor Email

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.
  • For further guidance on forming a project team contact domenica.gilroy@hscni.net.

Action

  • Contractors may wish to read the correspondence and slides and share with relevant members of the team.
  • If considering participation in an Opioid Improvement Project, contractors can register their interest by completing the form before 14th September.
  • If you require further information contact domenica.gilroy@hscni.net.

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.
  • Any queries regarding CPVS should be directed to greg.miller@hscni.net or Grainne.McMahon4@hscni.net .

Action

  • 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
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health has issued an update (dated 4 September 2023) in respect of Serious Shortage Protocol SSP056 relating to Utrogestan 100mg capsules here.

SUMMARY

Contractors should note the following:

The expiry date for SSP056 (Utrogestan 100mg capsules) has now been extended until Friday 29 September 2023.

Contractors are reminded of the details 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.

ACTION

Contractors should:

  • Read the attached letter and ensure that their dispensing teams are fully apprised of the update to SSP056.
  • Note that the latest versions of SSPs are available on the Business Services Organisation dedicated page on its website HERE.

CPNI colleagues will continue to keep you up to date with details of any further SSPs issued.

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.

CPNI ALERTS

DOH(NI) ALERTS

BSO ALERTS

MHRA UPDATE

Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s Contractor Calendar and Contractor Emails.
Or report medicine shortages, pricing and staffing issues via the CPNI’s Medicine Shortage Reporter and Situation Reporter.
Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
Gerard Greene
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor,
SPPG issued correspondence today to all contractors in relation to the community pharmacy vaccination service for Autumn 2023.

SUMMARY

  • The programme will officially start on 18 September 2023.
  • Community pharmacies planning on vaccinating a care home should initiate pairing arrangements with the care home and complete the online questionnaire (https://consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk/hsc/cp-covid19-autumn-booster-service/) as soon as possible and before 5pm on Monday 11 September.
  • The eligible cohorts for both COVID-19 and flu vaccinations are those aged 18 and above in the following groups:
    • All residents and staff in a care home registered with the RQIA;
    • All adults aged 65 years and over;
    • Persons aged 18 years to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as laid out in the Immunisation Green Book, COVID-19 chapter/Influenza chapter (Green Book);
    • Frontline health and social care workers;
    • Persons aged 18 to 64 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression (as defined in the Green Book);
    • Persons aged 18 to 64 years who are carers (as defined in the Green Book);
    • Pregnant women.
  • The service specification and PGDs will be available soon on the BSO website.
  • Comirnaty BA.4.5 and XBB COVID-19 mRNA vaccines will be administered to individuals as the autumn booster doses.  Deployment will initially be with Comirnaty BA.4.5 vaccine and will transfer to Comirnaty XBB vaccine when this is licenced and distributed.
  • Community pharmacies will be able to place orders for COVID-19 Comirnaty BA.4.5 vaccines and Influenza vaccines (aQIV and QIVc) with Movianto from Monday 11 September.
  • All patients vaccinated as part of the CPVS must be recorded on the regional VMS.  Pharmacies are asked to test their access to VMS in advance of the programme.  If there are any difficulties in accessing the VMS either phone BSO ITS Service Desk on Tel: 028 95 36 2400 or Email: supportteam@hscni.net and ask for a support call to be raised on your behalf.  Please make it clear that the issue relates to the Vaccine Management System.
  • Any provider that does not currently have access can contact Tom Coyle (tom.coyle@hscni.net) who will provide further information on setting up and accessing VMS.  New contractors should be aware it may take up to ten working days to set up a new pharmacy access to VMS.
  • Details on the fee structure, the item of service fee, set up fee and associated payments will be published shortly when confirmed by DH.

ACTION

Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI should you have any other queries.

Kind regards,

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive