Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor
HSCB has asked that any outstanding claims forms for the GFA Additional Staff Costs are submitted to local HSCB offices as a matter of priority.

Please find correspondence HERE for the attention of all Community Pharmacies Contractors from Joe Brogan, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management, Health and Social Care Board.

SUMMARY

  • HSCB is asking that any remaining claim forms are returned to HSCB offices as soon as possible.
  • HSCB is making available funding of up to £2,000 per community pharmacy for community pharmacies to claim to help with additional pharmacy staff costs incurred in the period July 2021 to September 2021 inclusive.
  • This Grant Funding is being made available by HSCB in recognition of the significant work force pressures and resultant increased staff costs that have been experienced in the sector during this period. 

ACTION

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Colleague
Please find attached HERE correspondence from Kathryn Turner, Pharmacy Lead Health and Social Care Board.

SUMMARY

  • The AZ COVID -19 vaccine is NOT to be offered from community pharmacy under the COVID booster vaccination programme.
  • The ONLY vaccine to be offered as a booster dose from community pharmacy is Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA).
  • This is only to be offered from community pharmacies with a contract to provide it and to those patients who are eligible at that current time.
  • In the small number of individuals where the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA) cannot be used e.g. due to a contraindication, the individual affected should be consult with their GP for referral to the Trust.

ACTION

Contractors are advised to:

  1. Review the attached correspondence.
  2. Only offer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA) under the COVID booster vaccination programme, if you have a contract to provide it and to those patients who are eligible at that current time.
  3. Refer the individuals who the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA) cannot be used to their GP for referral to the Trust.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Monday 11 October 2021

Dear Contractor

Please find HERE correspondence issued by HSCB today advising that they are aware of the issues some contractors are experiencing with the E-Form for the Collect NI Lateral Flow Test Service.

Previous CPNI contractor updates relating to the updated E-Form and Payment Submission for the Collect NI Lateral Flow Test Service are available at the links below:

CPNI CU#211008A: Updated Pharmacy Collect NI Lateral Flow Test Service E-Form And Payment Submission

CPNI CU#210930A:  Pharmacy Collect NI Service Update

Should you have any queries please contact a member of the CPNI team.
Kind regards

Ennis

SENT ON BEHALF OF
Ennis Shields
Governance & Support Pharmacist

Friday 08 October 2021

BSO ALERTS 
Weekly Drug Alerts are available here.
Class 2 Medicines Recall – Levothyroxine tabs 50mcg Accord-UK Ltd  27 September 2021
Weekly Shortages Information is available here.
Serious Shortage Protocols are available here.

CPNI ALERTS 
NEW Community Pharmacy NI Situation Report September 2021
CPNI CU#211008A: Updated Pharmacy Collect NI Lateral Flow Test Service E-Form And Payment Submission October 8, 2021
CPNI CU#211007C: Press Release – CMO And CPO Receive Influenza Vaccine From Community Pharmacy Today October 7, 2021
CPNI CU#211007B: Extended Closing Date For Return Of Moderna COVID-19 Booster Contract October 7, 2021
CPNI CU#211007A: SimplyBook.Me And Other Booking Systems – Link To Influenza Vaccine Interactive Map October 7, 2021
CPNI CU#211005B: Correspondence From CPO Regarding Self Isolation Requirements For Pharmacy Staff October 5, 2021
CPNI CU#211005A: HSCB Correspondence On Moderna COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Programme, Winter 2021/2022 October 5, 2021
HSCB ALERTS 
CPVS Weekly Round-Up 8 October 2021
Supply Issue Updates for Primary and Secondary Care 8 October 2021
VACCINE SUPPLY FOR THE COVID-19 BOOSTER VACCINATION PROGRAMME 7 October 2021
NI Medicines Management Newsletter 7 October 2021
Special Edition (issue 18) of the Learning Matters Newsletter; Risk of serious harm or death from choking on foods 7 October 2021
Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme Suitability of aQIV for those aged 65 years and over allergic to latex 1 October 2021
Universal Vaccination of Children and Young People Aged 12-15 against COVID-19 (Those aged under 18 years old are not eligible for the Community Pharmacy COVID-19 vaccination service) 1 October 2021
Important Notification of changes to the COVID-19 Pharmacy Collect NI Lateral Flow Test eForm and submissions for payment 30 September 2021
Adjusted August 2021 price for Cetirizine 1mg/ml sugar-free oral solution 30 August 2021
Community Pharmacy Seasonal Flu Vaccination (CPFV) Service PGD 29 August 2021
CPVS- vaccination protocol suspension update 28 August 2021
Reminder Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 28 August 2021
Community Pharmacy Seasonal Flu Vaccination (CPFV) Service 2021/2022 27 August 2021

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 or pricing issues via the CPNI’s Medicine Shortage Reporter

Kind regards

Ennis Shields
Governance & Service Support Pharmacist

Friday 08 October 2021

Dear Contractor

Further to the previous CPNI contractor update issued on 30 September 2021, please find attached HERE updated correspondence which issued yesterday from HSCB notifying those pharmacies who are participating in the Pharmacy Collect NI Lateral Flow Test Service of changes to the E-Form and Payment Submission.

Action:
Contractors participating in this service are advised to review the updated service documentation, tools and e-form on the BSO web page.

Contractors are asked to note the upcoming key dates:

11 October 2021: Contractors should submit their first submission under the new system. Please note for this first submission only, 10 days of data will be submitted for transactions made on 1-10 October 2021. If any transactions made prior to or on 30 September miss the cut-off, please add these to this first 10 day submission.

Starting 18 October 2021: once-weekly submissions will be made each Monday for the preceding 7 days. 

Please do not hesitate to contact local HSCB offices or CPNI should you require additional information or assistance.
 
Kind regards

Ennis

Ennis Shields
Governance & Support Pharmacist

Thursday 07 October 2021

Dear Contractor
The Chief Medical Officer Professor, Sir Michael McBride and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Cathy Harrison each received their flu vaccination at a pharmacy in Belfast today to officially launch this year’s community pharmacy flu vaccination programme.
 
The press release is available here: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/flu-vaccination-programme-now-underway-community-pharmacies

CPNI Chief Executive Gerard Greene had this important message for Contractors and all those in the Community Pharmacy Network:

“This is a hugely positive endorsement of Community Pharmacy, highlighting the importance of the expanded role of the pharmacy network in the winter flu vaccination programme.

I would like to thank the community pharmacy network for embracing this service whilst continuing to deliver day-to-day pharmacy services, supporting the health needs of your local communities.”

Action:
Contractors are advised to use the social media cards (available here) for those aged 50 and over and Health and Social Care Workers aged 16 and over to help promote the service online.
Kind regards

Jude 
SENT ON BEHALF OF
Jude Austin
CPNI Communications Manager