Archives: Contractor Email

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

BSO ALERTS

CPNI ALERTS

DOH(NI) ALERTS

Contractors are reminded that additional supplies of the My Medicines List leaflet are available and hard copies can be ordered by emailing Medicine.Safety@hscni.net.
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 Contractor

Northern Ireland’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officer issued correspondence yesterday advising that in response to a significant ongoing disruption to the supply of Estradot® 50mcg and 100mcg patches, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued two new Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) in order to help mitigate against the continued shortages and supply issues that are being experienced with these products.

SUMMARY

Contractors should note the following:

  • SSP048 – for every Estradot® 50mcg patch originally prescribed, one Evorel® 50mcg patch must be supplied.
  • SSP049 – for every Estradot® 100mcg patch originally prescribed, one Evorel® 100mcg patch must be supplied.
  • The SSPs are available to view on the BSO website and all contractors should ensure that relevant staff, including locums, are aware of the detail of these SSPs.
  • Further SSP guidance including a FAQ document is also available on the BSO website.

ACTION

  • Contractors should note the contents of the letter and make all relevant members of the pharmacy team aware.

Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office should you require any further advice.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor,
SPPG issued correspondence today, providing a number of updates in relation to the Pharmacy First service for Emergency Hormonal Contraception.

SUMMARY:

Contractors will note:

  • There are 402 pharmacies offering the service at present.
  • To date over 6,400 women and young people have benefited from the service.
  • Women and young people may access the service by a number of referral pathways:
    • Self-referral
    • Referral by the pharmacy
    • Referral from GP practice or Out of Hours medical centres
    • Referral from Sexual Health Clinics
    • Referral from other services providing safe-guarding/counselling services such as the Rowan (further information is provided in the letter).
  • Pharmacies providing the service are asked to invite service users to complete an anonymous survey to give feedback on their experience.  A link to the survey can be found here and a QR code is also provided.
  • A consultation form and where appropriate, a Fraser competency form, should be completed and retained for each consultation.
  • A monthly claim form should be submitted for payment.
  • Community pharmacies who are not already providing the service may commence if they wish to do so by returning a signed copy of the contract to their SPPG office.

ACTION:

Contractors are asked to note:

  • The content of the letter and share the information with relevant members of the pharmacy team.

Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI offices should you require any additional information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF 
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor,
SPPG issued correspondence yesterday regarding the recovery of the Covid-19 special advance.

ACTION:

Contractors are asked to note:

  • The content of the letter
  • Recovery will not apply to the January, February and March 2023 payment runs
  • Recovery will recommence with the April 2023 payment run (for March prescriptions) and will continue for a period of 13 months

Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI offices should you require any additional information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF 
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The third update of concessionary prices were granted today for January 2023:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Amoxicillin 125mg/5ml oral suspension100£5.01
Brimonidine 0.2% eye drops5£4.60
Calcipotriol 0.005% / Betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% ointment30£12.53
Cefalexin 250mg tablets28£3.25
Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension70£5.84
Febuxostat 80mg tablets28£4.26
Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml oral solution100£5.05
Isotretinoin 20mg capsules30£15.11
Mometasone 0.1% ointment30£4.37
Omeprazole 20mg gastro-resistant capsules28£2.90
Oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free250£9.71
Valsartan 80mg capsules28£7.02
Venlafaxine 37.5mg tablets56£4.36
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,
SPPG issued correspondence on Tuesday 24 January 2023 regarding updated shortages guidance.  The guidance is available on the BSO website and a copy is also available here.

ACTION:

Contractors are asked to note:

Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI offices should you require any additional information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF 
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive