Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor
You will be aware that correspondence was issued by Mr Joe Brogan on 31 March 2023 providing a Medicines Adherence Update. Correspondence was also issued on 31 March 2023 to GP practices advising of Important Changes to NI Drug Tariff for “Multiple/Instalment Dispensing”. Both communications advise that multiple dispensing endorsements should only be added to prescriptions where the medicines are subject to abuse/misuse. The correspondence also advise that from 1 May 2023 the NI Drug Tariff will be amended to remove “life-threatening non-compliance” from the criteria for multiple dispensing.

CPNI has concerns about the approach that is being taken and the risks it presents not only for community pharmacy teams and general practice, but also for patients. With the Department stating its intention to change the Drug Tariff on 1 May 2023, CPNI is strongly of the view that multiple dispensing endorsements should not be removed prior to that date. 

In order to support community pharmacy teams, CPNI have engaged with general practice colleagues and have asked for this letter to be disseminated to all general practices in Northern Ireland to advise against removal of multiple endorsements prior to 1 May 2023. You may share this letter with your local GP practice if they have not received it.

CPNI have also prepared this letter for community pharmacies to send to GP surgeries where MD endorsements are removed for specific patients before 1 May 2023.

CPNI would ask you to ensure that all community pharmacy staff involved with multiple dispensing and adherence services are made aware of the information contained within these letters.

Yours sincerely

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
From 1 April 2023 pharmacies can order LFDs for the Pharmacy Collect NI service and PPE for the pharmacy on the same order form available HERE.  Ordering LFDs for the Pharmacy Collect NI service via the new order form replaces ordering from the Alliance wholesaler.
 
Pharmacies are reminded that stock is now ordered on a weekly basis and where stock of either LFDs for Pharmacy Collect NI service or PPE stock for the pharmacy is required, a completed reorder form must be emailed as an attachment to: pharmPPEorders@hscni.net no later than 5pm on a Wednesday.
 
Delivery schedule over Easter

Any orders for stock received by 5pm Wednesday 5 April 2023 should be delivered by the courier on Tuesday 11 April 2023 and Wednesday 12 April 2023. (NOTE: Courier will be closed Friday 7 April 2023 and Monday 10 April 2023).

If you have any queries please contact the BSO Customer helpline 02895361301 in the first instance or your local SPPG Primary Care office.

Yours sincerely

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI issued correspondence on 31 March 2023 in respect of Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) SSP040-SSP047 relating to phenoxymethylpenicillin preparations.

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.
  • DHNI has advised that the expiry dates for SSP040 – SSP047 have been extended to 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.

ACTION

Contractors should:

  • Note that DHSC has advised that the expiry dates for SSP040 – SSP047 have been extended to 28 April 2023.
  • Review the DHNI letter of 31 March 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; 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

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 or Contractor Emails

Or report medicine shortages, pricing and staffing issues via the CPNI’s Medicine Shortage Reporter or 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 final update of concessionary prices were granted today for March 2023:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Chlorphenamine 2mg/5ml oral solution150£3.72
Co-amoxiclav 250mg/125mg tablets21£2.94
Duloxetine 60mg gastro-resistant capsules28£3.84
Fusidic acid 1% modified-release eye drops5£31.41
Ivabradine 2.5mg tablets56£42.83
Ivabradine 5mg tablets56£31.14
Levetiracetam 500mg tablets60£3.67
Miconazole 2% cream30£2.51
Mometasone 0.1% cream30£3.77
Mometasone 50micrograms/dose nasal spray140£3.29
Nitrofurantoin 100mg tablets28£10.32
Ondansetron 4mg tablets10£6.23
Paracetamol 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free200£9.21
Perindopril erbumine 8mg tablets30£5.16
Pramipexole 180microgram tablets30£11.64
Prednisolone 20mg/application foam enema14£225.45
Risperidone 500microgram tablets20£3.26
Salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml nebuliser liquid unit dose vials20£12.50
Salbutamol 5mg/2.5ml nebuliser liquid unit dose vials20£13.08
Spironolactone 100mg tablets28£4.67
Spironolactone 25mg tablets28£2.14
Spironolactone 50mg tablets28£2.33
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment30£21.53
Tolterodine 2mg tablets56£4.58
Topiramate 100mg tablets60£16.55
Travoprost 40micrograms/ml eye drops2.5£2.00
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg orodispersible tablets sugar free6£19.39
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 ContractorCPNI received notification yesterday afternoon of the funding arrangements that SPPG will be putting in place for adherence support to patients from 1 April 2023. Contractors will be notified by SPPG later today and advised of the new arrangements being applied by SPPG from 1 April 2023.

There has been no discussion or negotiation with CPNI on the changes to the adherence funding arrangements, which are a significant departure from those previously used, and therefore the new arrangements represent an imposition by SPPG and DoH(NI) from 1 April 2023.

CPNI is disappointed at the approach that is being taken by SPPG and DoH(NI) and has serious concerns about the implications this will have going forward. 

CPNI Board will be meeting next week to discuss this and other relevant matters as a matter of priority and will keep contractors fully informed.
Yours sincerely
SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive