Archives: Contractor Email

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
Dear Colleague
The third update of concessionary prices were granted today for March 2023:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Bicalutamide 150mg tablets28£3.96
Cefalexin 250mg tablets28£2.86
Cefalexin 500mg capsules21£2.80
Cefalexin 500mg tablets21£2.80
Cinnarizine 15mg tablets84£5.40
Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension70£4.99
Clarithromycin 250mg tablets14£4.80
Co-careldopa 12.5mg/50mg tablets90£4.00
Donepezil 10mg tablets28£1.35
Donepezil 5mg tablets28£1.35
Erythromycin 250mg gastro-resistant tablets28£3.24
Febuxostat 80mg tablets28£6.19
Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free100£4.93
Ketoconazole 2% shampoo120£14.95
Lofepramine 70mg tablets56£13.53
Mometasone 0.1% ointment30£4.51
Nadolol 80mg tablets28£14.45
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution100£9.99
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution
sugar free		100£9.99
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution100£10.50
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution
sugar free		100£10.50
Rabeprazole 10mg gastro-resistant tablets28£5.76
Ropinirole 250microgram tablets12£5.64
Ropinirole 2mg tablets28£20.52
Trazodone 100mg capsules56£4.76
Trazodone 50mg capsules84£5.02
Valaciclovir 500mg tablets10£14.85
Venlafaxine 150mg modified-release capsules28£5.63
Venlafaxine 150mg modified-release tablets30£4.95
Zopiclone 7.5mg tablets28£1.61
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

As you will be aware, CPNI has been engaging with NICPLD on the Experiential Learning (EL) Programme over recent months and keeping contractors updated accordingly. Community pharmacy as a sector is supportive of EL and particularly welcomes the opportunity to encourage our students to pursue a career in community pharmacy. In order to do that, CPNI believes students need to have a positive EL placement with adequate support in a conducive environment. The pressures currently facing the community pharmacy network, in terms of workforce, workload and funding, are of such magnitude that CPNI would suggest that contractors consider their own situations objectively to decide if it will be feasible for their pharmacy to participate, and whether it is the right time for students to experience the harsh reality of community pharmacy. CPNI will remain supportive of the EL programme and engage with those involved, but we have to ensure that the programme is providing the right foundation for students and contractors to build the future of community pharmacy upon. Unfortunately, that is not currently the status and without significant investment the community pharmacy service is at real risk.

CPNI are aware that NICPLD are seeking availability from contractors for the dates they would be able to host EL placements and also seeking further providers to register with NICPLD. We also understand that contractors may previously have registered their interest in becoming an EL provider.

Given discussions at the most recent contractor meeting, contractors may consider deferring giving any further commitment at this time, including accepting any placements or returning any contracts/declarations, until such time that community pharmacy is equipped to offer students the experience of the sector they deserve.

Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office or your local CPNI Director if you have any further queries.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
Please see attached correspondence from the Department of Health outlining the plans for Phase 2 of the SRP claims process.
While the vast majority of eligible individuals captured in Phase 1 of the process, which was co-ordinated by the Health & Social Care Board (HSCB) on behalf of the DoH during 2021/22. Phase 2 guidance documentation and claim template have been developed to support the implementation of the SRP for Community Pharmacy.

If contractors identify there are further eligible individuals you need to claim for in the SRP Phase 2 process, please follow the guidance attached and complete the Phase 2 claim template for any remaining eligible individuals and return to SPPG dedicated email addresses available HERE. If you have assessed that you do not need to make an SRP Phase 2 claim return, please confirm this by email, quoting your Practice number on the subject line of the email and also adding “Nil Return” to the subject line of the email.

When the supporting information has been received and your claim has been checked/validated, SPPG will confirm the value of the SRP reimbursement to you and the date the payment will be processed. If you have any queries, please direct these by email to the StaffRecognitionPaymentQueries@hscni.net email address in the first instance.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive