Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague
The second update of concessionary prices were granted today for December 2022:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml oral suspension100£4.34
Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free100£3.87
Calcipotriol 0.005% / Betamethasone dipropionate
0.05% ointment		30£12.99
Carvedilol 6.25mg tablets28£2.85
Chloramphenicol 1% eye ointment4£4.30
Cinacalcet 30mg tablets28£13.55
Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension70£5.21
Clotrimazole 1% cream50£5.54
Co-amoxiclav 500mg/125mg tablets21£9.85
Colecalciferol 1,000unit capsules30£8.31
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml eye drops5£4.75
Dosulepin 25mg capsules28£5.75
Erythromycin ethyl succinate 500mg tablets28£14.20
Famotidine 40mg tablets28£36.30
Flucloxacillin 500mg capsules28£3.99
Fluoxetine 20mg/5ml oral solution70£14.30
Frovatriptan 2.5mg tablets6£18.17
Hydroxocobalamin 1mg/1ml solution for injection
ampoules		5£13.19
Lamotrigine 25mg dispersible tablets sugar free56£23.99
Latanoprost 50micrograms/ml eye drops2.5£2.55
Mometasone 50micrograms/dose nasal spray140£4.80
Naproxen 500mg tablets28£2.12
Naratriptan 2.5mg tablets6£3.10
Naratriptan 2.5mg tablets12£6.20
Omeprazole 20mg gastro-resistant capsules28£3.20
Oxybutynin 5mg tablets56£2.55
Paracetamol 500mg soluble tablets24£3.83
Paracetamol 500mg soluble tablets100£15.95
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg tablets28£3.99
Pregabalin 300mg capsules56£4.01
Promethazine hydrochloride 25mg tablets56£34.19
Rivastigmine 3mg capsules28£5.79
Telmisartan 20mg tablets28£5.31
Telmisartan 40mg tablets28£3.33
Temazepam 10mg tablets28£31.00
Temazepam 20mg tablets28£33.00
Topiramate 50mg tablets60£19.98
Valsartan 40mg capsules28£7.30
Valsartan 80mg capsules28£8.99
Venlafaxine 37.5mg tablets56£5.17
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,
Further to my previous update, CPNI has received a final offer from SPPG which was considered at an emergency meeting of CPNI Directors yesterday afternoon. The offer is comprised of a number of elements outlined as follows:
  • Medicines Adherence: a Without Prejudice offer of £22m to deliver a medicines adherence service for 2022/23. This represents an additional £10.8m to be released to Contractors in the final quarter of 2022/23. 
  • Special Advance: a further suspension of repayment until March 2023. The repayment would therefore commence again in April 2023 at a rate of £1.45m per month for 13 months. SPPG have stated that this will be the final suspension in repayment. 
  • Historic fees: an agreement to review instalment dispensing fees associated with patients in cohort one (drugs of misuse/abuse) over the next few months to be completed by the end of the financial year to inform fee rates for 2022/23. 
  • The Permanent Secretary agreed to implement a Sustainability Review of Community Pharmacy, which would consider reforms needed to assure access to pharmacy services for the population.

The Permanent Secretary and SPPG have clearly stated that the proposals above are conditional on the withdrawal of services/actions previously notified by CPNI on 17 November 2022 being stood down. The Permanent Secretary also committed to a further meeting with CPNI in March 2023 to ensure that various elements within the proposal are being progressed satisfactorily.
 
CPNI Board has considered this offer within the context of the current difficulties facing community pharmacy, but also alongside the wider issues facing the Health Service and the political instability that currently exists.
 
While it does not fully resolve all of the current problems and underlying funding challenges within community pharmacy, CPNI Directors view this as a transitional and workable way forward for the remainder of 2022/23. It will provide some much-needed cash flow for contractors and allow a further three months of engagement with SPPG and DoH(NI) on the wider issues, when there should be further clarity on budgets for 2023/24. CPNI will remain committed to addressing the difficulties that face the community pharmacy network.
 
CPNI has written to SPPG to agree that the offer represents a workable and transitional way forward for the remainder of 2022/23, while highlighting the fundamental issues that still need to be addressed going into 2023/24.
 
The detail of how the funding will be allocated and the associated timelines will be further considered by CPNI and SPPG, but we will keep you informed as the discussions progress.
 
There will still be a need for your pharmacy teams to carefully manage new community based patients seeking compliance support via the community pharmacy. Actions, including the requirement for ARF referral for existing patients who received compliance support from their community pharmacy prior to being admitted, as well the position on Christmas Rota and Belfast On-Call can be stood down.  SPPG will now liaise with pharmacies who have been notified to provide Rota and the Belfast On-call services over the Christmas and New Year period. If contractors require local amendments to the SPPG proposed Christmas and New Year Rota arrangements please contact ggilvary@communitypharmacyni.co.uk. CPNI has asked SPPG to be flexible in arriving at workable Christmas and New Year rota arrangements and, where relevant, you are asked to put forward any suggested amendments to SPPG when contacted by local offices.
 
This Contractor Update provides you with key information on the proposals received from SPPG. Further information will also be provided in due course.
 
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 first update of concessionary prices were granted today for December 2022:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Alendronic acid 70mg tablets4£4.63
Amisulpride 100mg tablets60£20.29
Amisulpride 200mg tablets60£33.92
Amisulpride 50mg tablets60£13.09
Amorolfine 5% medicated nail lacquer5£7.34
Aripiprazole 10mg tablets28£29.95
Aripiprazole 15mg tablets28£25.85
Atenolol 25mg tablets28£1.44
Benzydamine 0.15% mouthwash sugar free300£4.65
Benzydamine 0.15% oromucosal spray sugar free30£3.69
Bisacodyl 5mg gastro-resistant tablets60£4.99
Bisoprolol 2.5mg tablets28£1.18
Celecoxib 100mg capsules60£6.26
Chlorpromazine 100mg tablets28£29.83
Chlorpromazine 25mg tablets28£28.50
Chlorpromazine 50mg tablets28£29.51
Cilostazol 100mg tablets56£16.29
Citalopram 20mg tablets28£1.96
Citalopram 40mg/ml oral drops sugar free15£15.95
Clarithromycin 500mg tablets14£9.45
Clotrimazole 500mg pessaries1£10.35
Co-amilofruse 2.5mg/20mg tablets28£4.32
Co-trimoxazole 80mg/400mg tablets28£4.73
Desogestrel 75microgram tablets84£5.08
Donepezil 5mg tablets28£1.30
Escitalopram 10mg tablets28£1.99
Escitalopram 20mg tablets28£1.69
Escitalopram 5mg tablets28£1.15
Ezetimibe 10mg tablets28£1.99
Febuxostat 80mg tablets28£3.50
Finasteride 5mg tablets28£4.99
Fluoxetine 10mg capsules30£24.50
Fluoxetine 20mg capsules30£1.25
Fluoxetine 40mg capsules30£2.47
Gabapentin 100mg capsules100£3.53
Lacidipine 2mg tablets28£3.20
Lacidipine 4mg tablets28£4.24
Lamotrigine 100mg tablets56£2.54
Lamotrigine 50mg tablets56£2.57
Lercanidipine 20mg tablets28£7.93
Levetiracetam 1g tablets60£6.66
Mometasone 0.1% cream100£12.67
Mycophenolate mofetil 500mg tablets50£8.68
Naproxen 250mg gastro-resistant tablets56£2.76
Naproxen 500mg gastro-resistant tablets56£4.90
Nebivolol 2.5mg tablets28£18.20
Nebivolol 5mg tablets28£1.37
Norethisterone 5mg tablets30£7.43
Omeprazole 10mg gastro-resistant capsules28£1.50
Oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free250£9.70
Paroxetine 20mg tablets30£1.63
Prednisolone 5mg soluble tablets30£62.00
Pregabalin 75mg capsules56£2.30
Quinine sulfate 200mg tablets28£4.80
Rasagiline 1mg tablets28£4.95
Risedronate sodium 35mg tablets4£3.24
Tamsulosin 400microgram / Dutasteride
500microgram capsules		30£19.80
Telmisartan 80mg tablets28£2.99
Tranexamic acid 500mg tablets60£7.10
Valsartan 160mg capsules28£10.36
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

ENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE

Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The first update of concessionary prices were granted today for December 2022:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Alendronic acid 70mg tablets4£4.63
Amisulpride 100mg tablets60£20.29
Amisulpride 200mg tablets60£33.92
Amisulpride 50mg tablets60£13.09
Amorolfine 5% medicated nail lacquer5£7.34
Aripiprazole 10mg tablets28£29.95
Aripiprazole 15mg tablets28£25.85
Atenolol 25mg tablets28£1.44
Benzydamine 0.15% mouthwash sugar free300£4.65
Benzydamine 0.15% oromucosal spray sugar free30£3.69
Bisacodyl 5mg gastro-resistant tablets60£4.99
Bisoprolol 2.5mg tablets28£1.18
Celecoxib 100mg capsules60£6.26
Chlorpromazine 100mg tablets28£29.83
Chlorpromazine 25mg tablets28£28.50
Chlorpromazine 50mg tablets28£29.51
Cilostazol 100mg tablets56£16.29
Citalopram 20mg tablets2831.96
Citalopram 40mg/ml oral drops sugar free15£15.95
Clarithromycin 500mg tablets14£9.45
Clotrimazole 500mg pessaries1£10.35
Co-amilofruse 2.5mg/20mg tablets28£4.32
Co-trimoxazole 80mg/400mg tablets28£4.73
Desogestrel 75microgram tablets84£5.08
Donepezil 5mg tablets28£1.30
Escitalopram 10mg tablets28£1.99
Escitalopram 20mg tablets28£1.69
Escitalopram 5mg tablets28£1.15
Ezetimibe 10mg tablets28£1.99
Febuxostat 80mg tablets28£3.50
Finasteride 5mg tablets28£4.99
Fluoxetine 10mg capsules30£24.50
Fluoxetine 20mg capsules30£1.25
Fluoxetine 40mg capsules30£2.47
Gabapentin 100mg capsules100£3.53
Lacidipine 2mg tablets28£3.20
Lacidipine 4mg tablets28£4.24
Lamotrigine 100mg tablets56£2.54
Lamotrigine 50mg tablets56£2.57
Lercanidipine 20mg tablets28£7.93
Levetiracetam 1g tablets60£6.66
Mometasone 0.1% cream100£12.67
Mycophenolate mofetil 500mg tablets50£8.68
Naproxen 250mg gastro-resistant tablets56£2.76
Naproxen 500mg gastro-resistant tablets56£4.90
Nebivolol 2.5mg tablets28£18.20
Nebivolol 5mg tablets28£1.37
Norethisterone 5mg tablets30£7.43
Omeprazole 10mg gastro-resistant capsules28£1.50
Oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free250£9.70
Paroxetine 20mg tablets30£1.63
Prednisolone 5mg soluble tablets30£62.00
Pregabalin 75mg capsules56£2.30
Quinine sulfate 200mg tablets28£4.80
Rasagiline 1mg tablets28£4.95
Risedronate sodium 35mg tablets4£3.24
Tamsulosin 400microgram / Dutasteride
500microgram capsules		30£19.80
Telmisartan 80mg tablets28£2.99
Tranexamic acid 500mg tablets60£7.10
Valsartan 160mg capsules28£10.36
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

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a further five Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) (SSP043 – SSP047) in response to current concerns across the UK regarding the availability of antibiotic preparations required for the treatment of Group A Streptococcus infection. These SSPs, which are detailed in the attached letter from DHNI, came into operation in all parts of the UK on 19 December 2022 and have an expiry date of 31 January 2023.

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.
  • DHSC has developed a further five SSPs in response to current concerns across the UK regarding the availability of antibiotic preparations required for the treatment of Group A Streptococcus infection.
  • These SSPs will allow community pharmacists to consider different oral antibiotic preparations to enable the continued supply of antibiotics to patients and mitigate the ongoing supply disruptions affecting phenoxymethylpenicillin.
  • For each SSP, DHSC has included specific patient counselling points which must be considered when deciding whether supply in accordance with an SSP is suitable for a patient.
  • Before supplying an alternative antibiotic, the pharmacist must firstly consider if a suitable supply can be made by using an alternative formulation of phenoxymethylpenicillin in accordance with the relevant SSP (SSP040 – SSP042).  Where that is not possible, only specified antibiotics can be substituted for prescriptions for duration of no longer than 10 days, in order of preference depending on availability and the dosing needs for the patient (see specific SSP for details).
  • Full details on these SSPs are available on the dedicated page on the Business Services Organisation website HERE.

ACTION

Contractors are asked to:

  • Note the issue of five SSPs (SSP043 – SSP047) in response to current concerns across the UK regarding the availability of antibiotic preparations (in addition to the three SSPs (SSP040 – SSP042) issued on 15 December 2022).
  • Review the attached letter from DHNI detailing these five SSPs, ensure that they are familiar with the detail contained within each SSP, and to ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of these new protocols.
  • Note that the ‘Addendum – Supporting information on notifying other healthcare professionals’ does not apply in Northern Ireland.  Pharmacists in Northern Ireland should refer to the existing SSP operational guidance on the BSO website HERE.
  • Note also the specific guidance on professional judgement and patient/carer consent detailed in the letter and in the operational guidance.

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