Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague
The final update of concessionary prices were granted today for October 2022:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Aripiprazole 1mg/ml oral solution150£104.90
Bumetanide 1mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£235.00
Chlorphenamine 2mg/5ml oral solution150£4.09
Chlorphenamine 2mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£2.80
Cilostazol 100mg tablets56£14.99
Clobazam 10mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free56£90.28
Clobazam 10mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free250£150.46
Co-amilofruse 2.5mg/20mg tablets28£3.90
Docusate 50mg/5ml oral solution sugar free300£20.25
Doxycycline 100mg capsules8£0.85
Fluoxetine 40mg capsules30£2.47
Hydralazine 25mg tablets56£4.57
Ivabradine 5mg tablets56£6.70
Liothyronine 5microgram tablets28£100.94
Methotrexate 2.5mg tablets28£1.68
Mometasone 0.1% cream100£9.48
Nadolol 80mg tablets28£9.00
Nebivolol 10mg tablets28£28.18
Rabeprazole 20mg gastro-resistant tablets28£11.84
Rivastigmine 3mg capsules28£4.75
Yellow soft paraffin solid500£5.65
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 Colleague
The fifth update of concessionary prices were granted today for October 2022:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Aripiprazole 15mg tablets28£36.80
Aripiprazole 5mg tablets28£37.78
Carbocisteine 375mg capsules120£17.04
Chloramphenicol 1% eye ointment4£3.38
Citalopram 20mg tablets28£1.96
Clindamycin 150mg capsules24£4.42
Codeine 30mg tablets100£3.96
Codeine 30mg tablets28£1.11
Co-trimoxazole 80mg/400mg tablets28£5.15
Digoxin 125microgram tablets28£1.53
Digoxin 62.5microgram tablets28£3.83
Gabapentin 300mg capsules100£3.33
Ibandronic acid 150mg tablets1£1.80
Levetiracetam 100mg/ml oral solutionsugar free300£9.15
Mometasone 0.1% cream30£4.32
Mometasone 0.1% ointment30£4.19
Mometasone 50micrograms/dose nasal spray140£3.71
Pregabalin 75mg capsules56£1.83
Quinine sulfate 200mg tablets28£3.97
Risperidone 500microgram tablets20£3.55
Temazepam 20mg tablets28£29.95
Tetracycline 250mg tablets28£14.39
Venlafaxine 37.5mg tablets56£3.53
Venlafaxine 75mg tablets56£16.14
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg tablets12£22.01
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg tablets6£11.01
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

PSNI CONSULTATION: DRAFT GUIDANCE ON PHARMACY STAFFING LEVELS

On 14 October 2022, PSNI issued an eight-week public consultation on “Draft Guidance on Pharmacy Staffing Levels” which closes on 9 December 2022.  This is very similar in format and content to GPhC guidance issued in 2018.

CPNI will be responding to the consultation questions and would welcome any initial comments which you may have to inform this response.

PSNI CONSULTATION: DRAFT GUIDANCE ON PHARMACY STAFFING LEVELS CALL FOR EVIDENCE: REVIEW OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT, ETHICS AND PERFORMANCE 2016

The Pharmaceutical Society NI has begun a review of the Pharmaceutical Society NI Code (Professional Standards of Conduct, Ethics and Performance for pharmacists in Northern Ireland) 2016.  CPNI has secured a place on the Advisory Group associated with this review.

PSNI has issued a Call for Evidence HERE which will be used to inform the proposed revision (the Call for Evidence will close on the 30 November 2022). The draft revised Code will be the subject of a public consultation in early 2023.

Contractors may wish to respond to the Call for Evidence directly via the link provided in the document.  Alternatively, you can send comments to CPNI and these will be used to inform our input and response.

Kind regards – Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs 

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 

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 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 

SENT ON BEHALF OF
Gerard Greene
Chief Executive