Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague

From today, as outlined in CPNI correspondence on Monday 22 November 2021 The Cessation of Non-Commission Adherence Service to New Patients CPNI community pharmacies are no longer taking on new compliance aid patients. To continue with adherence support in its current format would put patient safety and core pharmacy services at risk and contractors have taken this step to protect and support increasingly stretched community pharmacy teams. If you receive a prescription endorsed with dispense weekly, or another specified interval, this should still be dispensed in skillets in the quantity specified by the prescription. Multiple dispensing fees will still be paid and, although we do not agree with the current level that multiple dispensing fees, we do need to continue to provide this specific element as part of our Terms of Service. Alongside the contractor resources you received in Cessation Of Non-Commissioned Adherence Service To New Patients Pharmacy Resources, CPNI have produced an advice sheet HERE which you may find useful when dealing with MDS requests from a hospital pharmacist or direct from a patient or carer. This resource outlines options to consider as an alternatives to MDS for new patients with potential adherence issues. CPNI has issued a press release HERE. If you or a member of your team is contacted by the media, please contact the CPNI offices for advice and guidance. Please ensure that this information is shared with your pharmacy team members in each pharmacy you operate. Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI Office on 028 9069 0444 for further advice or support.

Kind regards

Dear Colleague

Please find attached HERE correspondence from Colette Rogers, Strategic Lead for Tobacco Control NI, PHA and Dr Stephen Bergin, Director of Public Health (Interim), PHA.

SUMMARY

• Carbon monoxide (CO) testing has been paused since the early stages of the pandemic due to concerns regarding infection as well as to reduce the duration of face-to-face appointments.
• CO monitoring may now be re-started as PHE advise the risk of COVID-19 virus transmission via use of CO monitors is minimal.

ACTION

• Contractors are advised to:
• Review the attached correspondence.
• Note when resuming CO monitoring, staff should ensure that they follow their manufacturer’s guidance on the safe handling/cleaning of monitors. Additional COVID-19 specific guidance now includes:Carry out the test with a minimum 2 metre distance between the SSS adviser and the client, using verbal instructions on how to use the monitor.
• Ensure the client is not facing the advisor when blowing into the machine.
• Ensure the room where CO monitoring is taking place is well-ventilated.
• Ask the client to dispose of the mouthpiece into the bin themselves, then wash their hands/use sanitiser
• Contact CPNI offices should you require any additional information.

Kind regards

Dear Colleague

Thank you to all pharmacy teams who are getting involved in the “Big Jab Weekend“. If you have plans for vaccination clinics over 4-5 December 2021, please let Katherine Kidd know kkidd@communitypharmacyni.co.uk   We have been working with the HSCB and have agreed the following funding for pharmacies participating in the “Big Jab Weekend“:

• HSCB will cover the costs of any premises being used on 4-5 December 2021 to offer COVID vaccinations outside of the pharmacy setting.
• £200 per day will be provided to any pharmacy participating in the “Big Jab Weekend” who is offering off-site COVID vaccinations or opening outside of their normal commercial opening hours to provide COVID vaccinations.

The HSCB has also agreed to provide £200 per day to any pharmacy who is providing off-site vaccinations or opening outside of their normal commercial opening hours to offer COVID vaccinations throughout the month of December. This will be reviewed for January 2022.
 
The HSCB will be issuing a communication to all pharmacies later this week along with a template form for claiming the above funding.
 
Finally, there is a Community Pharmacy Echo Session scheduled for 7.30pm tonight. Dr. Patricia Donnelly (Head of the Northern Ireland COVID Vaccination Programme) will be joining the meeting so we would encourage those of you involved in COVID vaccination services to attend if possible.
 
Thank you again for your support with the COVID vaccination service.

Kind regards

Dear Colleague

Please find attached information for the upcoming Virtual ECHO Session tonight Tuesday 30 November 2021 at 19:30-21:00.   Please find attached the Agenda including Zoom Meeting ID: 433 459 8223 Passcode: 9633 ahead of the Session.    The topic of discussion will be ‘COVID-19 Knowledge and Support Sharing – Community Pharmacy Services 2020/2021′.

Kind regards

Dear Colleague

The countdown is on to the Community Pharmacy “Big Jab Weekend” which is taking place on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 December 2021. To raise awareness of the upcoming weekend and to help encourage uptake in your area, we have drafted promotional cards which you can share on your pharmacy’s social media channels.  Contractors can add their own local messaging alongside these cards, tailoring for their specific vaccine offering. For e.g. 1st, 2nd primary or booster, opening times, location etc. The first card is HERE, and a further card will be issued later this week. To help increase online reach, I would ask you to please tag in the following organisations in social media posts as they will share posts relating to the weekend:

• CPNI – Twitter: @compharmacyni, Facebook: @communitypharmacyni and Instagram: @compharmacyni
• Department of Health – Twitter: @healthdpt
• Health and Social Care Board – Twitter: @HSCBoard, Facebook: @healthandsocialcareboard and Instagram: @health_and_social_care
• Public Health Agency – Twitter: @publichealthni, Facebook: @publichealthagency and Instagram: @publichealthni
• NICVA – Twitter: @NICVA and Facebook: @NICVA 

In some areas, demand could be higher than capacity and to manage expectations, pharmacists may need to signpost patients to other providers in their areas, such as Trust clinics. It is important for community staff supporting this weekend to be aware of the closest alternative vaccination options. This information can be found HERE.

To date over 211,000 vaccines have been administered by community pharmacy. The outstanding contribution of the profession in the vaccination programme has been widely recognised and we are excited to be able to build on this through the “Big Jab Weekend”. It is a further opportunity to demonstrate the value of delivering vaccinations through community pharmacy. To help illustrate the positive impact this weekend can have on improving local vaccine uptake, I would ask your teams to please capture positive case studies and photos, when possible.

I would ask community pharmacies who intend to participate in the Big Jab Weekend to advise CPNI of their plans by emailing kkidd@communitypharmacyni.co.uk.

Thank you once again to you and your teams and please do not hesitate to contact CPNI Office on 028 9069 0444 for further advice or support.

Kind regards

Dear Colleague

The final update concessionary prices were granted for November 2021:

Drug	Pack Size	Concessionary Price
Co-amilozide 5mg/50mg tablets	28	£8.98
Co-dydramol 10mg/500mg tablets	100	£6.19
Co-dydramol 10mg/500mg tablets	30	£1.86
Omeprazole 10mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	75	£106.46
Omeprazole 20mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	75	£206.00
Prednisolone 5mg soluble tablets	30	£10.35
Simvastatin 20mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	150	£173.89
Simvastatin 40mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	150	£250.63
Sulfasalazine 500mg gastro-resistant tablets	112	£23.12
Sulfasalazine 500mg tablets	112	£21.35
Topiramate 100mg tablets	60	£8.09
Topiramate 25mg tablets	60	£8.09
Topiramate 50mg tablets	60	£2.89
Trazodone 100mg capsules	56	£3.52
Trazodone 150mg tablets	28	£3.31

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