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

• NICPLD Update on Application for Accreditation as an FTY Educational Supervisor 16 March 2023
• CPNI Contractor Meeting Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast, Thursday 23 March 2023 at 8pm 16 March 2023
• REMINDER Regional Pharmacy Stop Smoking Service Update 15 March 2023
• First Concessionary Prices – March 2023 15 March 2023
• Important Safety and Recall Information – Medicines Containing Pholcodine 15 March 2023

DOH(NI) ALERTS

• Request for Pairing Information: Spring 2023 COVID-19 Vaccinations for Care Home Residents 16 March 2023
• Electronic/Computerised Controlled Drug Registers 16 March 2023
• Pholcodine: Drug Safety Update – Pholcodine-containing Cough and Cold Medicines: Withdrawal from UK Market as a Precautionary Measure 14 March 2023
• Class 2 Medicines Recall – All Pholcodine-containing Medicines are Being Recalled and Withdrawn from the UK as a Precaution 14 March 2023
• TARGET “How to” Resource on Acne and Accompanying Survey 13 March 2023
• Cost Effective Choices List 10 March 2023

BSO ALERTS

• Weekly Drug Alerts are available here.
  • Medicines Defect Information – Venlafaxine XL 150mg, 225mg, 300mg Tablets 16 March 2023
• Weekly Shortages Information is available here.
  • Capsaicin 0.075% (Axsain®) and 0.025% (Zacin®) Cream 16 March 2023
• Serious Shortage Protocols are available here.

The Community Development and Health Network (CDHN) recently shared their Newsletter on Building the Community-Pharmacy Partnership and it is available to read here.

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust is running a pilot training programme: Isolation and Loneliness Experienced by Older People. The programme comprises of free virtual and face to face half day and one day training courses aimed at staff in healthcare and non-healthcare roles, who are directly engaging with older people in the Belfast Trust area. Click on the following links for further information: •    An Introduction to Loneliness and Isolation Experienced by Older People •    OCN NI Level 2 Award in Awareness of Loneliness

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.

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

Kind regards

Dear Colleague

NICPLD issued correspondence on Monday regarding the application process for those pharmacists who wish to be accredited as an Educational Supervisor for the 2023/24 Foundation Training Year cohort.

SUMMARY

• The application process to become an accredited ES for FTY 23/24 is now open.
• The application process will close on 27 March 2023.
• Regardless of previous accreditation status, all pharmacists intending to act as an ES for the 23/24 FTY cohort must apply for accreditation, using the form which can be found here.
• Applicants should familiarise themselves with the PSNI Standards for Foundation Training Year to ensure they are eligible.
• There are three pathways to accreditation which are dependent on prior accreditation status and experience.  Further detail can be found in the correspondence here.

ACTION

Contractors are asked to:

• Note the NICPLD correspondence on application for ES accreditation.
• Note that the closing date for applications is 27 March 2023.
• Note the PSNI Standards for Foundation Training Year.

Please feel free to contact a member of the CPNI team should you have any questions, or alternatively queries can also be directed to nicpld-fty@qub.ac.uk.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor

I write to confirm that a contractor meeting will take place on Thursday 23 March 2023 at 8pm at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast,117 Milltown Rd, Belfast BT8 7XP

This will be an ‘in-person’ meeting and an important update will be provided on community pharmacy funding for 2023/24 including adherence services.

I would encourage you all to attend this meeting and ask that you RSVP by 5pm on Tuesday 21 March 2023 by completing this link HERE.

Kind regards

Dear Colleague

As you may be aware, SPPG issued correspondence on 23 January 2023 to those pharmacies providing the Regional Stop Smoking Service.

SUMMARY

• The rolling forward of the “Stop Smoking” service contract due to be returned to the PHA on 30 January 2023. 
• All providers that have purchased, or in the process of purchasing a carbon monoxide monitor via the PHA Reimbursement Scheme, goods need to be receipted no later than 31 March 2023. PHA will require a pharmacy reimbursement invoice in addition to the supplier invoice.

ACTION

Contractors are asked to note:

• The contents of the letter and bring it to the attention of relevant staff
• Submit a pharmacy reimbursement invoice in addition to the supplier invoice to PHA for a carbon monoxide monitor purchased via the PHA Reimbursement Scheme, goods need to be receipted no later than 31 March 2023. 

For queries in relation to the service please contact your PHA local Tobacco coordinator. Queries may also be directed to a member of the CPNI team.

Kind regards 

Dear Colleague

The first update of concessionary prices were granted today for March 2023:

Drug	Pack Size	Concessionary Price
Amisulpride 100mg tablets	60	£20.29
Amisulpride 200mg tablets	60	£33.92
Amisulpride 50mg tablets	60	£13.09
Amoxicillin 125mg/5ml oral suspension	100	£4.32
Amoxicillin 125mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	100	£3.80
Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml oral suspension	100	£4.34
Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	100	£3.50
Amoxicillin 500mg capsules	15	£2.51
Amoxicillin 500mg capsules	21	£3.51
Aripiprazole 15mg tablets	28	£12.36
Aripiprazole 5mg tablets	28	£14.98
Atenolol 25mg tablets	28	£1.31
Baclofen 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free	300	£5.99
Bimatoprost 100micrograms/ml eye drops	3	£4.04
Bisacodyl 5mg gastro-resistant tablets	60	£4.83
Brimonidine 0.2% eye drops	5	£4.42
Brinzolamide 10mg/ml eye drops	5	£5.06
Carbocisteine 250mg/5ml oral solution	300	£7.08
Carbocisteine 375mg capsules	120	£8.24
Carvedilol 6.25mg tablets	28	£1.45
Chloramphenicol 1% eye ointment	4	£5.20
Chlorpromazine 100mg tablets	28	£26.54
Chlorpromazine 25mg tablets	28	£25.43
Chlorpromazine 50mg tablets	28	£26.79
Cinacalcet 30mg tablets	28	£11.95
Citalopram 40mg/ml oral drops sugar free	15	£9.38
Clarithromycin 500mg tablets	14	£10.20
Clonidine 25microgram tablets	112	£20.78
Clotrimazole 1% cream	50	£3.47
Clotrimazole 500mg pessaries	1	£10.35
Co-amoxiclav 500mg/125mg tablets	21	£6.95
Co-careldopa 25mg/100mg tablets	100	£7.60
Co-trimoxazole 80mg/400mg tablets	28	£2.73
Desogestrel 75microgram tablets	84	£3.39
Digoxin 125microgram tablets	28	£3.78
Digoxin 250microgram tablets	28	£3.02
Digoxin 62.5microgram tablets	28	£3.81
Dosulepin 25mg capsules	28	£5.08
Duloxetine 30mg gastro-resistant capsules	28	£2.69
Enalapril 2.5mg tablets	28	£7.19
Ezetimibe 10mg tablets	28	£1.63
Finasteride 5mg tablets	28	£4.01
Flucloxacillin 125mg/5ml oral solution	100	£2.98
Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml oral solution	100	£3.98
Flucloxacillin 500mg capsules	28	£3.59
Fluoxetine 20mg/5ml oral solution	70	£15.50
Frovatriptan 2.5mg tablets	6	£15.05
Gabapentin 600mg tablets	100	£32.00
Hydroxocobalamin 1mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules	5	£13.19
Isotretinoin 20mg capsules	30	£12.50
Lamotrigine 100mg tablets	56	£2.50
Lamotrigine 50mg tablets	56	£2.76
Latanoprost 50micrograms/ml eye drops	2.5	£2.64
Levetiracetam 100mg/ml oral solution sugar free	300	£11.49
Levetiracetam 1g tablets	60	£6.28
Mebeverine 135mg tablets	100	£7.55
Methocarbamol 750mg tablets	100	£10.66
Mycophenolate mofetil 500mg tablets	50	£8.42
Naftidrofuryl 100mg capsules	84	£10.89
Naproxen 250mg gastro-resistant tablets	56	£2.50
Naproxen 500mg gastro-resistant tablets	56	£4.90
Naproxen 500mg tablets	28	£1.77
Nebivolol 2.5mg tablets	28	£16.18
Nebivolol 5mg tablets	28	£1.73
Omeprazole 20mg gastro-resistant capsules	28	£2.50
Oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free	250	£9.50
Paracetamol 500mg soluble tablets	24	£3.49
Paracetamol 500mg soluble tablets	100	£14.54
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg tablets	28	£3.20
Prednisolone 5mg soluble tablets	30	£57.50
Pregabalin 150mg capsules	56	£2.68
Pregabalin 25mg capsules	56	£1.93
Pregabalin 300mg capsules	56	£3.50
Pregabalin 50mg capsules	84	£2.64
Pregabalin 75mg capsules	56	£2.33
Promethazine hydrochloride 25mg tablets	56	£32.59
Quetiapine 25mg tablets	60	£1.61
Quetiapine 300mg tablets	60	£4.08
Quinine sulfate 200mg tablets	28	£4.50
Rasagiline 1mg tablets	28	£3.99
Risedronate sodium 35mg tablets	4	£2.84
Telmisartan 20mg tablets	28	£5.02
Telmisartan 40mg tablets	28	£3.40
Telmisartan 80mg tablets	28	£3.48
Terbinafine 1% cream	15	£3.02
Terbinafine 1% cream	30	£3.50
Topiramate 25mg tablets	60	£9.25
Topiramate 50mg tablets	60	£16.81
Trospium chloride 20mg tablets	60	£12.09
Valsartan 160mg capsules	28	£8.08
Valsartan 40mg capsules	28	£6.65
Venlafaxine 37.5mg tablets	56	£3.99
Venlafaxine 75mg tablets	56	£11.13
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg tablets	12	£27.50
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg tablets	6	£13.75
Zopiclone 3.75mg tablets	28	£1.99

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 Colleague

Following advice issued by MHRA yesterday, Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical and Chief Pharmaceutical officers issued correspondence to healthcare professionals.  Their letter outlines the updated safety information on Pholcodine-containing medicines and notifies health professionals that a Class 2 Medicines Recall is now in place for relevant Pholcodine-containing medicines.  Class 2 Medicine Recall notices must be actioned within 48 hours.

SUMMARY

• Pholcodine-containing cough and cold medicines are being withdrawn from the UK market as a precaution following a review which found that their benefits do not outweigh the increased risk of the very rare event of anaphylaxis to neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) used in general anaesthesia.
• Do not dispense or sell pholcodine-containing medicines – consider recommending appropriate treatment alternatives for patients who present with a new dry cough or who are currently taking pholcodine.
• Pharmacies should follow the Class 2 Medicines Recall Notice to quarantine stock of pholcodine-containing medicines and return it to the manufacturer.
• Patients should be advised as follows:
  • Pholcodine-containing cough and cold medicines are being withdrawn from sale as a precaution and will no longer be available from pharmacies.
  • If you are taking a cough medicine (including tablets and syrups), check the packaging, label or Patient Information Leaflet to see if pholcodine is a listed ingredient – if it is, and you have any questions, you can talk to your pharmacist who can suggest a different medicine suitable for you.
  • There is evidence that using pholcodine-containing medicines leads to an increased risk of the very rare event of an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) in patients who receive general anaesthesia involving neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) during surgery.
  • Tell your anaesthetist before you have surgery if you have taken pholcodine, particularly in the past 12 months, or think you may have taken a pholcodine-containing product.

ACTION

Contractors are asked to:

• Read the MHRA and DoH Safety Information on Pholcodine-containing products and make pharmacy staff aware. 
• Action the Class 2 Medicine Recall in your pharmacy ASAP.
• Advise pharmacy teams that Class 2 Medicine Recalls must be actioned within 48 hours.

Please feel free to contact a member of the CPNI team should you have any questions.

Kind regards