Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor

Contractors and their staff are reminded to remove all patient identifiable details e.g. PMR labels from Oxygen cylinders when they are returned to the pharmacy by patients, their representatives or by the pharmacy delivery driver.  This will ensure that no patient identifiable information is present when the cylinders are subsequently collected by BOC.

Contractors and staff are reminded of their obligations to protect patient confidentiality and comply with GDPR obligations at all times.

Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI Offices if you require any further information.

Kind Regards

Dear Contractor,

The Department of Health issued correspondence on 18 July 2023 in relation to supply of Glucagon 1mg Powder for Injection kit (GlucaGen®).

 SUMMARY 

The DoH correspondence advises:

• There are two glucagon preparations available – GlucaGen® (1mg powder for injection kit) and Ogluo® (0.5mg and 1mg pre-filled auto-injector pens)
• There will be intermittent supply of GlucaGen® 1mg powder for injection kit until 2024.
• Ogluo® 0.5mg and 1mg pre-filled auto-injector pens can be used for the treatment of severe hypoglycaemic episodes; however, is not suitable for treatment of beta blocker or other drug overdoses.
• Ogluo® is available to order from the wholesaler, Alliance. 
• Guidance on ordering unlicensed and imported GlucaGen® is provided in the correspondence.
• The correspondence advises that all stock must be conserved as much as possible and used carefully as outlined in the correspondence.
• Ogluo® instruction videos for patient counselling can be found on the manufacturer’s website.

 ACTION 

• Ensure the information in the DoH correspondence is brought to the attention of relevant members of the pharmacy team.
• Advise patients that there will be intermittent supply of GlucaGen® 1mg powder for injection kit until 2024.
• Patients should contact their GP to discuss their options.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor

SPPG issued correspondence today providing an update in relation to the Adherence Echo Session which took place on 29th June 2023.

SUMMARY

• An SPPG Echo Session on Adherence took place on 29th June 2023.
• A number of questions were raised using the chat function during the Echo session.
• As there was not sufficient time to address the questions, SPPG have now provided a follow up document.
• Where questions were of a similar theme, they have been grouped together and answers provided.

ACTION

• Contractors should note the information in the SPPG correspondence and share it with relevant members of the pharmacy team.
• Contractors may also wish to refer to CPNI contractor update CPNI CU#230622B which includes answers to frequently asked questions on Adherence.

Please contact CPNI offices if you require any further information.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor,

The Department of Health issued correspondence today in relation to a national patient safety alert regarding the ongoing shortage of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists.

 SUMMARY 

• CPNI shared previous correspondence in relation to the shortage of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in contractor update CPNI CU#230629A.
• The correspondence issued today by DoH provides further information on the ongoing shortages, indicating that supplies of all glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) remain very limited and intermittent.
• Supplies are not expected to stabilise to meet full market demand until at least mid 2024. 
• The off-label use of these agents for the management of obesity is strongly discouraged.
• The DoH correspondence advises that existing stock must be conserved for use in patients with diabetes.
• The DoH correspondence includes actions to be taken by all healthcare professionals involved in prescribing or dispensing GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines until supply issues have resolved.

 ACTION 

• Ensure the information in the DoH correspondence, including the actions to be followed by healthcare professionals, is brought to the attention of your pharmacy teams.
• Advise patients that supplies will be very limited and intermittent until at least mid-2024.
• Patients should contact their GP to discuss their options.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor,

SPPG issued correspondence on 18th July 2023 regarding a programme of work during 2023/24 to deliver efficiencies on the prescribing budget in primary care. 

SUMMARY

• The SPPG correspondence advises that a focus of activity for this year in primary care will be “Deprescribing”.  
• A Deprescribing supplement has been developed which summarises the key areas of focus in 23/24 and is available here.
• SPPG will be supporting this programme of work with a patient-facing publicity campaign to provide direct messaging to patients and the public to seek their support and help them understand why they are likely to see some changes in their medicines.

ACTION

• Contractors should note the correspondence
  and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team.
• Contractors should note the areas of focus in the deprescribing supplement.

Please contact the CPNI office should you require any further assistance.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor,

SPPG issued correspondence today providing an update in relation to the payment arrangements for Instalment Dispensing.

SUMMARY

• SPPG Correspondence issued in June 2023 outlines changes to the Drug Tariff and Instalment Dispensing.
• SPPG correspondence issued today outlines ongoing work to monitor this transition and to implement payment arrangements.
• CPNI continues to work with SPPG so that financial stability, associated with the current funding allocation for adherence support and instalment dispensing, is provided to contractors during this transitionary period.

ACTION

• Contractors should note the information on instalment dispensing payment arrangements in the SPPG correspondence.

REMINDER

• SPPG have advised that a number of contractors have not yet returned the following 
  • The declaration form available here which was due to be completed and returned to local offices by 30th June 2023.
  • The quarterly return form available here.  The return for the April – June period was to be completed and returned to local offices by Friday 7th July 2023.
• If not yet completed, the declaration and quarterly return forms should be completed and returned to local offices ASAP even if it is a zero return.

Please contact CPNI offices if you require any further information.

Kind regards