Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague
The third update of concessionary prices were granted today for April 2023:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Buprenorphine 8mg sublingual tablets sugar free7£4.41
Calcipotriol 0.005% / Betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% ointment30£9.23
Carbocisteine 375mg capsules120£7.24
Chloramphenicol 1% eye ointment4£5.20
Chlorpromazine 100mg tablets28£27.60
Chlorpromazine 25mg tablets28£26.50
Chlorpromazine 50mg tablets28£26.30
Cyclizine 50mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules5£10.95
Digoxin 125microgram tablets28£4.60
Digoxin 250microgram tablets28£3.99
Digoxin 62.5microgram tablets28£4.44
Docusate 50mg/5ml oral solution sugar free300£19.49
Flucloxacillin 125mg/5ml oral solution100£3.14
Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free100£3.60
Hydroxychloroquine 200mg tablets60£4.28
Leflunomide 20mg tablets30£3.50
Mometasone 0.1% cream30£4.60
Mometasone 0.1% ointment30£4.37
Moxonidine 200microgram tablets28£5.80
Nebivolol 2.5mg tablets28£14.15
Omeprazole 20mg gastro-resistant capsules28£2.45
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg tablets28£2.95
Pregabalin 75mg capsules56£2.30
Quetiapine 300mg tablets60£4.08
Ropinirole 250microgram tablets12£4.95
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment30£21.89
Telmisartan 80mg tablets28£3.26
Topiramate 100mg tablets60£18.88
Topiramate 25mg tablets60£10.13
Topiramate 50mg tablets60£18.30
Trospium chloride 20mg tablets60£12.09
Venlafaxine 75mg tablets56£12.51
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg orodispersible tablets sugar free6£19.39
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg tablets12£28.20
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg tablets6£14.10
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 new Medicine Shortage Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The Pharmaceutical Society NI has issued a reminder that the deadline for receipt of Extenuating Circumstances applications in respect of CPD is 30 April 2023. Further details can be found in the attached letter HERE.

ACTION

Contractors and pharmacists within their teams should note the deadline for receipt of Extenuating Circumstances applications in respect of CPD.

Kind regards 

SENT ON BEHALF OF
Gerard Greene
Chief Executive

This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams, including details of the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CPNI ALERTS

DOH(NI) ALERTS

BSO ALERTS

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
DR. GARETH C. GILVARY
Governance & Support Pharmacist
Dear Colleague
The second update of concessionary prices were granted today for April 2023:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Bicalutamide 150mg tablets28£3.99
Bisacodyl 5mg gastro-resistant tablets60£4.99
Bisoprolol 2.5mg tablets28£1.02
Cinacalcet 30mg tablets28£11.95
Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension70£5.50
Clotrimazole 1% cream20£2.22
Clotrimazole 1% cream50£4.20
Co-amoxiclav 500mg/125mg tablets21£5.79
Co-careldopa 25mg/100mg tablets100£7.80
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg effervescent tablets32£3.36
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg effervescent tablets100£10.50
Desloratadine 5mg tablets30£4.30
Doxycycline 100mg capsules8£1.05
Finasteride 5mg tablets28£3.84
Frovatriptan 2.5mg tablets6£13.95
Gabapentin 600mg tablets100£25.50
Hydroxocobalamin 1mg/1ml solution for
injection ampoules		5£12.99
Lofepramine 70mg tablets56£13.49
Promethazine hydrochloride 25mg tablets56£30.80
Spironolactone 25mg tablets28£2.52
Tolterodine 1mg tablets56£3.22
Valsartan 40mg capsules28£7.51
Valsartan 80mg capsules28£8.75
Zopiclone 7.5mg tablets28£2.13
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 new Medicine Shortage Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE

Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The first update of concessionary prices were granted today for April 2023:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Amisulpride 100mg tablets60£20.29
Amisulpride 50mg tablets60£13.09
Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml oral suspension100£4.01
Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free100£3.50
Amoxicillin 500mg capsules15£2.13
Amoxicillin 500mg capsules21£2.98
Bimatoprost 100micrograms/ml eye drops3£3.99
Cinnarizine 15mg tablets84£5.98
Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension70£4.32
Clarithromycin 250mg tablets14£5.00
Clarithromycin 500mg tablets14£10.99
Clonidine 25microgram tablets112£20.62
Colecalciferol 1,000unit capsules30£7.95
Febuxostat 80mg tablets28£5.79
Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml oral solution100£3.91
Fluoxetine 20mg/5ml oral solution70£14.63
Isotretinoin 20mg capsules30£12.50
Latanoprost 50micrograms/ml eye drops2.5£2.08
Mebeverine 135mg tablets100£7.85
Metoprolol 50mg tablets28£1.95
Mometasone 50micrograms/dose nasal spray140£3.39
Mycophenolate mofetil 500mg tablets50£8.53
Nebivolol 5mg tablets28£1.71
Nitrofurantoin 50mg tablets28£13.25
Perindopril erbumine 2mg tablets30£1.93
Perindopril erbumine 4mg tablets30£2.79
Perindopril erbumine 8mg tablets30£3.49
Quetiapine 25mg tablets60£1.65
Risperidone 500microgram tablets20£3.79
Tamsulosin 400microgram / Dutasteride
500microgram capsules		30£17.79
Terbinafine 1% cream15£3.65
Tolterodine 2mg tablets56£4.89
Zopiclone 3.75mg tablets28£1.99
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 new Medicine Shortage Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE

Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI issued correspondence dated 17 April 2023.  A correction is highlighted within the letter dated 17 April and relates to notification of prescribers.

SUMMARY

  • 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.
  • As of 6 April 2023 DHNI has added SSP053 and SSP054 relating to Clarithromycin Oral Solutions to the list of SSPs currently in force.  The expiry date for both of these SSPs is indicated as 28 April 2023.
  • Pharmacists should refer to the latest versions of these 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:

  • Note that DHSC has added SSP053 and SSP054.
  • Review the letter of 17 April 2023 and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of these updates.
  • Note the details contained within this letter relating to the decision pathways for these SSPs; notification of GPs; “off label” use of medicines, the difference in SSP053 and SSP054 in relation to substitution with Clarithromycin tablets; vigilance with regard to appropriate dosing and quantity; provision of appropriate advice, instructions and measuring devices; the need for patient/carer agreement, and action to take when this is not given; and professional judgement.

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

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive