Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor

The Public Health Agency has oversight of the COVID-19 Vaccination programme in Northern Ireland and has requested that SPPG provide sufficient information to assure that all 477 RQIA registered Care Homes are paired with respective CPVS pharmacies to achieve the successful completion of the Spring COVID-19 Booster Campaign by end of May 2022. The recent Update G12 outlined the request for the network of Moderna CPVS pharmacies to complete an e-form for each care home requiring to be vaccinated, on a weekly basis each Wednesday. This is a REMINDER to submit an individual e-form for all of the Care Homes you have made arrangements with, to deliver vaccination clinics. Please complete e-form submissions TODAY. From 21 April 2022, SPPG would ask that you complete the e-form as soon as you have made a pairing arrangement with a Care Home. Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI should you require any further information.

Kind regards

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

BSO ALERTS 

• Weekly Drug Alerts are available here.
  • Medicines Defect Information – Depo-Medrone / Lidocaine 40mg/ml 21 April 2022
• Weekly Shortages Information is available here.
• Serious Shortage Protocols are available here.

CPNI ALERTS 

• COVID-19 Testing And Tracing Changes 22 April 2022
• Second Concessionary Prices – April 2022 21 April 2022
• COVID-19 Spring Booster Programme Care Home eForm Reminder 20 April 2022
• Living Well: Know Check Ask Campaign 20 April 2022
• COVID-19 Spring Booster Programme Care Home Claim Form 20 April 2022
• REMINDER COVID-19 Spring Booster Programme 20 April 2022

DOH(NI) ALERTS 

• Updated Pharmacy Collect NI Service 22 April 2022
  • The following groups will be eligible to collect free lateral flow tests from participating pharmacies:
    • You do not have COVID-19 symptoms but are collecting tests for someone who does have symptoms and is eligible for tests
    • You are in a group who may be eligible for new COVID-19 treatments and should obtain lateral flow tests in case you become symptomatic
    • You are a carer who provides close personal care for someone who is at higher risk if they contract COVID-19
    • You are working in or visiting high risk or vulnerable settings; for example care homes and hospital environments
    • Your GP or a healthcare professional has asked you to take a test
  • Pharmacy staff will NOT have to check if someone requesting a test kit is eligible.
• Better Days Pain Support Programmes: April – June 2022 21 April 2022
  • Better Days Pain Support Flyer
• COVID-19 Testing And Tracing Is Changing In Northern Ireland 21 April 2022
• End of the 2021/22 Flu Season and Related Issues 20 April 2022

Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).

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.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor

Testing for COVID-19 and contact tracing in Northern Ireland is changing. The changes will come into effect from this evening of Friday 22 April 2022.   As signalled in the Department of Health (NI) Transition Plan, these changes are proportionate and necessary at this stage of the pandemic and will deliver a more targeted approach to test and trace, focusing on protecting those at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19.

Further details can be found HERE. Updated guidance in relation to testing and isolation for health and care workers will be issued by the Department of Health (NI) week commencing 25 April 2022.

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

Kind regards

Dear Colleague

The second update of concessionary prices were granted for April 2022:

Drug	Pack Size	Concessionary Price
Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	100	£1.40
Baclofen 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free	300	£2.29
Bisacodyl 10mg suppositories	12	£2.49
Chlorpromazine 50mg tablets	28	£10.24
Co-dydramol 10mg/500mg tablets	100	£7.63
Co-dydramol 10mg/500mg tablets	30	£2.29
Co-trimoxazole 80mg/400mg tablets	28	£2.13
Fludrocortisone 100microgram tablets	30	£8.60
Gabapentin 600mg tablets	100	£6.42
Lercanidipine 20mg tablets	28	£8.12
Oxazepam 10mg tablets	28	£3.99
Oxybutynin 5mg tablets	56	£1.45
Paracetamol 500mg soluble tablets	100	£9.80
Paracetamol 500mg soluble tablets	24	£2.35
Pravastatin 10mg tablets	28	£1.03
Pravastatin 20mg tablets	28	£1.25
Pravastatin 40mg tablets	28	£1.42
Rivastigmine 3mg capsules	28	£3.10
Ropinirole 1mg tablets	84	£51.02
Tizanidine 2mg tablets	120	£6.55
Tolterodine 1mg tablets	56	£2.22
Trospium chloride 20mg tablets	60	£6.35
Valsartan 40mg capsules	28	£2.95

Concessionary prices will be paid against the usual code, no additional endorsements are needed.

Concessionary prices may be granted up until the end of the month so CPNI will notify you of any further concessionary prices as and when they are agreed.

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

The Public Health Agency has oversight of the COVID-19 Vaccination programme in Northern Ireland and has requested that SPPG provide sufficient information to assure that all 477 RQIA registered Care Homes are paired with respective CPVS pharmacies to achieve the successful completion of the Spring COVID-19 Booster Campaign by end of May 2022. The recent Update G12 outlined the request for the network of Moderna CPVS pharmacies to complete an e-form for each care home requiring to be vaccinated, on a weekly basis each Wednesday. This is a REMINDER to submit an individual e-form for all of the Care Homes you have made arrangements with, to deliver vaccination clinics. Please complete e-form submissions TODAY. From tomorrow, 21 April 2022, SPPG would ask that you complete the e-form as soon as you have made a pairing arrangement with a Care Home. Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI should you require any further information.

Kind regards

Dear Colleague

Please find correspondence HERE from Kathryn Turner, Pharmacy Lead, Strategic Planning and Performance Group.

SUMMARY

• “Know Check Ask” will now commence on 25 April 2022 and will run for a period of 2 months, it aims to raise awareness and educate the public about medication safety.
• There will be a public launch of this campaign after the election period during the week beginning 9 May 2022. Contractors are requested in the interim period to display the posters and materials and promote the campaign at individual patient level, but not to promote this campaign via social media channels. Digital assets will be made available for this campaign after the public launch.
• Resources for the “Know Check Ask” campaign are aiming to be delivered to pharmacies by 30 April 2022. Please start the campaign launch as soon as resources are received.
• All printable and additional resources and information will be available HERE.
• There will be a range of additional resources to support this campaign, all available HERE.

ACTION

• Contractors are asked to review the correspondence.
• If you have not received your “Know Check Ask” resource pack by 6 May 2022 please email reception.pha@hscni.net and ensure your email subject heading is titled “LIVING WELL PHARMACY CAMPAIGN”.
• Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office should you require any further information.

Kind regards