Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague

The first update of concessionary prices were granted for June 2022:

Drug	Pack Size	Concessionary Price
Aripiprazole 10mg tablets	28	£1.40
Aciclovir 400mg tablets	56	£3.26
Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml oral suspension	100	£2.40
Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	100	£2.05
Atenolol 50mg tablets	28	£0.79
Baclofen 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free	300	£2.15
Benzydamine 0.15% oromucosal spray sugar free	30	£4.21
Bimatoprost 100micrograms/ml eye drops	3	£4.50
Brimonidine 0.2% eye drops	5	£4.99
Celecoxib 100mg capsules	60	£5.95
Celecoxib 200mg capsules	30	£6.51
Clarithromycin 500mg tablets	14	£3.23
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg effervescent tablets	32	£2.03
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg effervescent tablets	100	£6.04
Co-dydramol 10mg/500mg tablets	30	£2.33
Co-dydramol 10mg/500mg tablets	100	£7.78
Cyanocobalamin 50microgram tablets	50	£14.49
Cyclizine 50mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules	5	£5.25
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml eye drops	5	£5.10
Famotidine 20mg tablets	28	£17.95
Famotidine 40mg tablets	28	£29.86
Flecainide 100mg tablets	60	£4.58
Frovatriptan 2.5mg tablets	6	£3.06
Gabapentin 100mg capsules	100	£3.65
Ibuprofen 100mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	100	£3.69
Lacidipine 4mg tablets	28	£3.90
Lansoprazole 30mg orodispersible tablets	28	£4.95
Lercanidipine 20mg tablets	28	£8.68
Losartan 100mg tablets	28	£2.25
Losartan 12.5mg tablets	28	£6.46
Losartan 25mg tablets	28	£1.17
Losartan 50mg tablets	28	£1.51
Metformin 500mg/5ml oral solution sugar free	150	£31.44
Methocarbamol 750mg tablets	100	£11.65
Midazolam 10mg/2ml solution for injection ampoules	10	£6.25
Mometasone 0.1% ointment	100	£10.40
Montelukast 4mg granules sachets sugar free	28	£6.64
Naftidrofuryl 100mg capsules	84	£8.10
Nizatidine 150mg capsules	30	£22.95
Norethisterone 5mg tablets	30	£3.99
Nortriptyline 10mg tablets	100	£1.94
Oxybutynin 5mg tablets	56	£1.56
Paracetamol 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	200	£3.20
Pravastatin 10mg tablets	28	£1.03
Pravastatin 20mg tablets	28	£1.29
Pravastatin 40mg tablets	28	£1.45
Prednisolone 5mg soluble tablets	30	£18.50
Rivastigmine 1.5mg capsules	28	£4.45
Ropinirole 250microgram tablets	12	£3.29
Ropinirole 2mg tablets	28	£17.50
Ropinirole 500microgram tablets	28	£6.00
Sodium bicarbonate 500mg capsules	56	£3.88
Solifenacin 10mg tablets	30	£4.22
Solifenacin 5mg tablets	30	£4.47
Sulfasalazine 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	500	£94.22
Sulfasalazine 500mg gastro-resistant tablets	112	£56.99
Sulfasalazine 500mg tablets	112	£58.50
Tamsulosin 400microgram / Dutasteride 500microgram capsules	30	£3.90
Tetracycline 250mg tablets	28	£6.72
Tizanidine 2mg tablets	120	£6.55
Tolterodine 1mg tablets	56	£2.15
Tolterodine 2mg tablets	56	£3.00
Topiramate 100mg tablets	60	£2.85
Topiramate 25mg tablets	60	£2.38
Topiramate 50mg tablets	60	£2.15
Trimethoprim 50mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	100	£9.31
Trospium chloride 20mg tablets	60	£6.99
Valsartan 160mg capsules	28	£7.57
Valsartan 80mg capsules	28	£4.68

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

Further to Contractor Update on 1 June 2022, papers for the 2^nd CPNI AGM, to be held at 8pm, Thursday 23 June 2022 in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast BT8 7XP have been posted to members for their consideration and are also available HERE.

Members are asked to complete the attendance form within the AGM updated Agenda document, confirming attendance/non-attendance, and return it to CPNI offices by post to CPNI, 5 Annadale Avenue, Belfast BT7 1HL or by email to Karen Douglas at kdouglas@communitypharmacyni.co.ukby 7.30pm Tuesday 21 June 2022.

For Members not able to attend either in-person or via Zoom but who wish to vote on the Notice of Special Motion please complete and return the Proxy Voting form when you are returning your attendance form.

Zoom joining details will be provided to Members who confirm they intend to join by Zoom on Wednesday 22 June 2022.

I would encourage members to attend this important AGM.

Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI offices should you require any additional 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 – Phenylephrine 0.08mg/ml injection 16 June 2022
  • Medicines Recall – Phenobarbital 60 mg tablets 13 June 2022
• Weekly Shortages Information is available here.
• Serious Shortage Protocols are available here.

CPNI ALERTS

• CPNI 2nd Annual General Meeting – 8pm, Thursday 23 June 2022 17 June 2022
  • Contractors are reminded to complete the attendance form within the AGM Agenda document, confirming attendance/non-attendance, and return it to CPNI offices by post to CPNI, 5 Annadale Avenue, Belfast BT7 1HL or by email to Karen Douglas at kdouglas@communitypharmacyni.co.uk no later than 7.30pm Tuesday 21 June 2022.
  • For Members not able to attend either in-person or via Zoom but who wish to vote on the Notice of Special Motion please complete and return the Proxy Voting form when you are returning your attendance form.
• Living Well Campaign Update – Breastfeeding 16 June 2022
• Medicine Shortages Information 15 June 2022
• COVID-19 Spring Booster Vaccination Programme Update 15 June 2022
• Completion COVID-19 Spring Booster Programme In Care Homes 14 June 2022
• Pharmacy Collect NI Update 14 June 2022

DOH(NI) ALERTS

• Be Cancer Aware Evaluation 16 June 2022
• Class 4 Medicines Defect Information – Phenylephrine 0.08 mg ml – Solution for Injection Infusion 16 June 2022
• Monkeypox Vaccination 15 June 2022
• CPVS Completion Spring Booster Covid Vaccination Programme in Care Homes 14 June 2022
• COVID-19 Spring Booster Vaccination Programme 14 June 2022
• Class 2 Medicines Recall – Phenobarbital 60 mg Tablets 14 June 2022

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

Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s Contractor Calendar and Contractor Emails.

Or report medicine shortages, pricing and staffing issues via the CPNI’s Medicine Shortage Reporter and Situation Reporter.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor

Further to Contractor Update on 1 June 2022, papers for the 2^nd CPNI AGM, to be held at 8pm, 23 June 2022 in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast BT8 7XP have been posted to members for their consideration and are also available HERE.

Members are asked to complete the attendance form within the AGM Agenda document, confirming attendance/non-attendance, and return it to CPNI offices by post to CPNI, 5 Annadale Avenue, Belfast BT7 1HL or by email to Karen Douglas at kdouglas@communitypharmacyni.co.ukno later than 7.30pm Tuesday 21 June 2022.

For Members not able to attend either in-person or via Zoom but who wish to vote on the Notice of Special Motion please complete and return the Proxy Voting form when you are returning your attendance form.

Zoom joining details will be provided to Members who confirm they intend to join by Zoom on Wednesday 22 June 2022.

I would encourage members to attend this important AGM.

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

Kind regards

Dear Contractor

Please see attached correspondence from Kathryn Turner, Pharmacy Lead, Strategic Planning and Performance Group and Stephen Wilson, Director of Operations (Interim), PHA.

SUMMARY

• The first campaign of 2022/2023, “Know Check Ask”, is due to finish on 30 June 2022.  Each pharmacy is required to complete an online evaluation survey for each campaign.  The survey will be available from 1 July 2022 HERE.
• It is vital that all community pharmacies contracted to provide “Living Well” submit their evaluation survey after each campaign as it allows SPPG to collate data to demonstrate the value and impact of the service to other sectors.  Data also supports future commissioning and service development.
• The second campaign of 2022/2023, “Breastfeeding” will commence on 1 July 2022.  This campaign will run for two months, and aims to raise awareness of the importance of breastfeeding for health and encourage support to help normalise breastfeeding.
• Online evaluation surveys for “Breastfeeding” will be used to gather feedback and gauge community pharmacies experiences.  The online evaluation surveys must be completed at the end of the campaign period. Details will be emailed to your secure email address in August 2022.

ACTION

• Contractors and pharmacy teams involved in the provision of the Living Well Service, are asked to review the attached correspondence.
• To support this campaign, PHA and SPPG would encourage community pharmacies to sign up to the ‘Breastfeeding welcome here’ scheme.  To sign up please visit the ‘For Business’ section of the ‘Breastfeeding welcome here’ website.  This initiative aims to provide supportive environments for mothers to breastfeed when they’re out and about in public places.
• Please start the ‘Breastfeeding’ campaign on 1 July 2022.  Resources for this campaign are limited, and are detailed within the correspondence.  If you have not received your “Breastfeeding” resource pack by 29 June 2022, please email reception.pha@hscni.net with a subject heading titled “LIVING WELL PHARMACY CAMPAIGN”.
• PHA will be releasing social media posts in relation to this campaign.  Community pharmacies are encouraged to share these on your social media channels, such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, to increase the reach of the campaign information.  These resources are available HERE.
• If you have any queries in relation to the changes outlined in this communication, please contact your local Integrated Care Office.
• If you have any further queries, please contact the CPNI office.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor

Shortages of medicines are becoming an increasingly frequent issue that can hinder pharmacy teams’ efforts to dispense medicines in a timely manner. CPNI is aware of the impact that current supply problems are having on pharmacy teams’ workload and about the potential impact on their patients.

Please continue to report using CPNI’s online reporting form:

• any medicine shortages or
• a medicine unavailable to purchase from your supplier(s) at or below the Drug Tariff listed price

The CPNI team can then build an evidence base of issues affecting community pharmacies and ultimately patients, enabling CPNI to liaise accordingly with the Department of Health NI (DHNI).

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) produces a monthly update of shortages for primary and secondary care, this can be found on the Primary Care Intranet > Pharmacy and Medicines Management > DHSC Monthly Bulletin. A dedicated shortages webpage can be found on the BSO website here.

In some circumstances, where a shortage of a medicine is severe, pharmacists may be able to follow a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) issued by DHNI to provide patients with an alternative product or quantity to their original prescribed treatment; but in other cases, they may need to refer a patient back to their prescriber to find an alternative product to ensure they receive treatment as quickly as possible. Click here to view the latest information on SSPs.

CPNI has produced the following materials to help contractors explain to patients the ongoing matter of medicine shortages, which your pharmacy team(s) may find useful.

1. CPNI Medicines Poster – Information on medicines supply for patients
2. CPNI Medicines Factsheet – Information on medicines supply for patients

ACTION

• Contractors are advised to bring this to the attention of the pharmacy team members involved in the ordering and purchasing of medicines for your pharmacy(-ies).

If you have any further queries, please contact the CPNI office.

Kind regards