Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor

Please see attached correspondence from Canice Ward, Head of Medicines Regulatory Group, Department of Health.

SUMMARY

The Department of Health NI issued a letter on 25 October 2022 giving details in respect of the supply of controlled drugs under the Community Pharmacy Emergency Supply Service.

The letter underscores that the governing legislation is permissive in respect of supplies of controlled drugs in Schedules 4 and 5, (provided that the conditions outlined in the Regulations are met and quantities do not exceed those for five days treatment).   However, it is very important to note that supplies of controlled drugs in Schedule 4 Part 1 are not permitted under the terms of the Community Pharmacy Emergency Supply Service.

Details are also given regarding labelling and record keeping requirements. 

ACTION

Contractors are advised to:

• Note the correspondence from the Department of Health; and 
• Ensure that their dispensing teams are aware of the issues highlighted.

CPNI colleagues will continue to update you on these matters.

Kind regards – Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs 

Dear Contractor

It has been brought to our attention that posters for the Pharmacy First for UTIs service are being distributed this week and next to all community pharmacies. While the posters may arrive, this service is not yet commissioned and CPNI are still working through some details with SPPG colleagues on the service.

Please ensure that your pharmacists and pharmacy teams are aware to store the posters appropriately until such time that the service may be introduced. CPNI will keep you updated on any developments with this service.

Kind regards 

Dear Colleague

The fourth update of concessionary prices were granted today for October 2022:

Drug	Pack Size	Concessionary Price
Amoxicillin 500mg capsules	15	£1.42
Amoxicillin 500mg capsules	21	£1.99
Carvedilol 6.25mg tablets	28	£1.22
Colecalciferol 1,000unit capsules	30	£7.95
Fluoxetine 10mg capsules	30	£27.26
Gabapentin 400mg capsules	100	£4.10
Prednisolone 5mg soluble tablets	30	£53.48
Tamoxifen 20mg tablets	30	£2.95
Temazepam 10mg tablets	28	£31.00
Travoprost 40micrograms/ml / timolol 5mg/ml eye drops	2.5	£5.75
Valsartan 40mg capsules	28	£3.50

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

Dear Contractor

Please see attached correspondence from SPPG Pharmacy and Medicines Management.

SUMMARY

• Following up from previous correspondence, on the prioritisation of care home vaccinations, it is necessary for programme planning to provide the requisite level of assurance to the PHA, on the timely completion of care  home vaccinations for COVID-19 and Flu, to both the residents and staff of all care homes.
• All CPs who are planning vaccination visits to care homes from today, are urgently requested to provide the information below:
  • Complete the table enclosed and return this information to the SPPG.
  • Please provide the relevant RQIA codes for the care homes which still require to be vaccinated as referenced from your data response to question 1.  A separate listing is required for each care home.
  • Please do not complete data for care homes which have been recorded on VMS prior to today, 24 October 2022.
  • Please return all data for each Care Home with the requested detail on the planned dates for vaccinations by 3pm Tuesday 25 October 2022. The data should be returned directly to Brendan Kerr (Brendan.kerr@hscni.net).
  • Please ensure that all vaccinations are recorded as quickly as possible on the VMS to ensure that the vaccinations are visible to all medical professionals utilising the VMS and to the PHA. 

ACTION

• Contractors involved in the provision of the vaccination services within care homes are asked to review the attached correspondence.
• Should you require any further clarity please contact Brendan Kerr (Brendan.kerr@hscni.net).
• If you have any further queries, please contact the CPNI office.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor

SUMMARY

• Following up from previous correspondence, on the prioritisation of care home vaccinations, it is necessary for programme planning to provide the requisite level of assurance to the PHA, on the timely completion of care  home vaccinations for COVID-19 and Flu, to both the residents and staff of all care homes.
• All CPs who are planning vaccination visits to care homes from today, are urgently requested to provide the information below:
  • Complete the table enclosed and return this information to the SPPG.
  • Please provide the relevant RQIA codes for the care homes which still require to be vaccinated as referenced from your data response to question 1.  A separate listing is required for each care home.
  • Please do not complete data for care homes which have been recorded on VMS prior to today, 24 October 2022.
  • Please return all data for each Care Home with the requested detail on the planned dates for vaccinations by 3pm Tuesday 25 October 2022. The data should be returned directly to Brendan Kerr (Brendan.kerr@hscni.net).
  • Please ensure that all vaccinations are recorded as quickly as possible on the VMS to ensure that the vaccinations are visible to all medical professionals utilising the VMS and to the PHA. 

ACTION

• Contractors involved in the provision of the vaccination services within care homes are asked to review the attached correspondence.
• Should you require any further clarity please contact Brendan Kerr (Brendan.kerr@hscni.net).
• If you have any further queries, please contact the CPNI office.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor

At the CPNI Contractor Meeting held at 8pm Thursday, 20 October 2022 , an outline of the 2022/23 community pharmacy funding reduction and the recent engagement with the Health Minister, Mr Robin Swann MLA and Senior Officials was provided to Contractors.

Community pharmacy contractors discussed a number of options open to them and we would like to confirm Contractor views in the following survey which can be found HERE.

The information provided will be collated in an anonymous manner and considered by CPNI ahead of the next Contractor meeting.

The next Contractor meeting will be an in-person only meeting in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Shaws Bridge, Belfast on Tuesday, 15 November 2022.

If you require any further information in relation to financial information provided at the Contractor meeting please do not hesitate to contact your local CPNI Board Director or CPNI offices.
Please complete by 5pm on Monday, 24 October 2022.

Kind regards