Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague,

Contractors will have seen the inclusion of a £2000 Special Advance Payment Temporary Adjustment on page 5 of Pharmaceutical Prescription Payment Summary Report issued on 31st March 2026.

It is important that you are aware this increases the Special Advance held by each pharmacy contract from £3000 to £5000 and that SPPG reserves the right to reclaim this amount from you.

CPNI has been making representations to the Department of Health, SPPG and political representatives, including the Health Committee, asking for the community pharmacy funding deficit to be urgently addressed.  Current medicine shortages and reimbursement insufficiency have also been raised.  To date, SPPG has opted only to increase the concessionary Special Advance held by each contract.

CPNI has advised SPPG that increasing the debt repayable to the Department of Health and SPPG only adds to contractor difficulties rather than alleviating them.

CPNI is not aware of SPPG/BSO having, to date, issued correspondence or a notification to contractors detailing the inclusion of the £2000 Special Advance Payment Temporary Adjustment in the 31st March 2026 BSO payment and, accordingly, CPNI has issued this Contractor Update to make you aware of this change.

Contractors are asked to:

• Note that the Department of Health/SPPG Special Advance (loan) held by Contractors is now £5000/contract.
• Notify your accountant and/or business adviser as appropriate.

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

Kind regards,

Dear Contractor,

The Department of Health, yesterday, published Care Closer to Home: The New Neighbourhood Health and Well-being Model framework.

The Neighbourhood Model is a core element of the Department’s Reset Plan, and marks the beginning of a major shift in how care is delivered across Northern Ireland.

Reflecting the ‘shift left’ thinking, the model will see care being brought closer to people’s homes and a much greater emphasis on genuine partnership working for the benefit of all of those who live in NI.

17 Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) will serve communities across Northern Ireland, with each INT serving an average population of 115k.  This model will see Community Pharmacy, GPs and their Federations, Voluntary and Community organisations, Trusts and independent providers working closely together, in formal partnerships, with the INTs planning and delivering care together, building strong links with the smaller neighbourhoods they support.

Community Pharmacy membership on the 17 new Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) is outlined within the Policy Framework document.

CPNI will continue to engage with the Department of Health & SPPG as the Neighbourhood model and INTs begin to be established during 2026/27, including the arrangements for community pharmacist membership of the INTs.

The Department of Health’s press release is available here, with further information available on the Department’s web-site here.

Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI offices if you require any additional information at this stage.

Kind regards,

**FOR THE ATTENTION OF PHARMACY COLLECT NI (LFD DISTRIBUTION) PHARMACIES ONLY**

Dear Contractor

SPPG have issued correspondence regarding the Pharmacy Collect NI LFD service.

SUMMARY

• Pharmacy Collect NI pharmacies are reminded that the order cut off for delivery of LFD stock before Easter is 10am Wednesday 1 April 2026.
• The LFD stock reorder form is available on the BSO website here.
• Contractors are asked to check stock levels before ordering to avoid stockpiling tests. 
• Please note:Existing stock may be close to expiring, please check all expiry dates to ensure there is adequate supply before the Easter break.

ACTION

Contractors are asked to:

• Read the correspondence issued by SPPG regarding the Pharmacy Collect NI LFD service.
• Please share this information with all relevant members of the pharmacy team.

Kind regards

FAO Pharmacy Contractors providing Foundation Training Year Placements: Department of Health Changes to Community Pharmacy FTY Funding from 1st April 2026

Dear Contractor,

Contractors providing community pharmacy FTY placements are asked to consider the correspondence issued by Prof. Cathy Harrison on 30th March 2026.

This letter advises that the FTY allowance payable to contractors providing community pharmacy FTY placements will change on 1st April 2026 to meet the 2026 National Living Wage rate of £12.71/hour for trainees aged 21 years and older.

As a result, the Department has determined that a total annualised allowance of £29,954 will be paid to contractors providing community pharmacy FTY placements, comprised of £24,454 towards FTY placement employment costs and £5,500 for protected employer specific funding to cover educational supervision and employer on-costs associated with FTY placements.  Payments will be processed on a pro-rata basis to account for 6-month FTY placements in community pharmacy.

Contractors are asked to:

• Note the content of the letter and ensure compliance with the new NLW rates payable from 1st April 2026.
• Disregard the previous letter from Prof. Harrison dated 26th March 2026.
• Note that CPNI continues to make representations to the Department on the funding disparity that exists between the FTY arrangements in community pharmacy and hospital pharmacy.

Yours sincerely,

Dear Colleague

The fourth update of concessionary prices were granted today for March 2026:

Drug	Pack Size	Concessionary Price
Chlordiazepoxide 10mg capsules	100	£30.27
Chlordiazepoxide 5mg capsules	100	£35.01
Clonidine 100microgram tablets	100	£9.95
Fluoxetine 10mg capsules	30	£4.26
Lacosamide 200mg tablets	56	£4.42

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 Medicine Pricing/Supply Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Autumn 2025 Seasonal Influenza Community Pharmacy Vaccine Service (CPVS)

Reminder: The Autumn 2025/26 Seasonal Influenza Programme ends on Tuesday 31st March 2026

Dear Contractor,

SPPG have issued a reminder that the Autumn 2025/26 seasonal influenza programme ends on Tuesday 31st March 2026.

Pharmacy teams should note:

• Vaccination should not occur after this date and the flu vaccination PGD will no longer be valid.
• Residual stock: Pharmacies should dispose of any residual aIIV and IIVc stock after 31st March in waste bins provided.

If you have any queries about the Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service (CPVS) please contact Greg Miller (greg.miller@hscni.net) or Grainne Sheerin (Grainne.Sheerin@hscni.net).

Please ensure this information is shared with relevant members of your pharmacy teams.

Kind regards,