Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor
Please find correspondence HERE regarding the continued need for AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination service, from Joe Brogan, Head of Pharmacy & Medicines Management.

SUMMARY

  • The successful COVID-19 vaccination programme delivered by community pharmacies in Northern Ireland with over 134,300 AZ COVID-19 doses administered to date.
  • HSCB recognises, given the large proportion of the NI population now fully vaccinated, it is understandable that some pharmacies will have stood down their primary AZ vaccination service, however, there is an ongoing need however, for delivery of this primary vaccination service including the provision of the AZ COVID-19 vaccine, where clinically appropriate.
  • It is important that the AZ COVID-19 vaccine continues to be made available to any patient who requires it and it would therefore be helpful for consideration to be given to recommencing the primary AZ vaccination service for those patients who still wish to be vaccinated.
  • HSCB would like to reassure community pharmacies that vaccinating individuals should be the primary objective and therefore recognises that significant waste at this point in the vaccination programme is unavoidable.
  • Movianto have received AZ COVID-19 vaccine stock with a longer expiry date and any community pharmacy placing an order from today onwards will receive stock with an expiry date of January 2022.

ACTION

  • Contractors are asked to review the correspondence.
  • It would be helpful for any community pharmacy no longer wishing to or able to provide an ongoing primary AZ vaccination service to contact their local HSCB office as soon as possible so the map can be updated accordingly.
  • Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI should you require any additional information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
Please find correspondence HERE regarding advice on 3rd primary dose of COVID-19 vaccination, from Kathryn Turner, Pharmacy Lead, Health and Social Care Board.

SUMMARY

  • Following guidance from The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and advice issued from the Department of Health. Community pharmacies offering COVID-19 Vaccines will be contributing to the programme by the administration of third primary doses of COVID-19 vaccine to those patients aged 18 years and over with severe immunosuppression.
  • If a patient is identified as eligible by their GP, they will be referred to community pharmacy for the 3rd primary COVID-19 vaccination dose. The patient will be issued with a referral letter by their GP for the attention of the pharmacist, detailing the time frame in which the patient needs to receive their 3rd primary dose vaccination.

ACTION

  • Contractors are asked to review the correspondence.
  • If the patient’s community pharmacy is unable to facilitate a vaccination within the stated time frame, the patient should be advised to use the interactive map to locate alternative vaccinating pharmacies.
  • Refer the patient back to their GP for further advice, if there is no appropriate vaccination appointment available.
  • Contractors are also asked to review the relevant PGDs and service documentation, found HERE, which have been updated to reflect 3rd primary doses.
  • For any further queries please contact: Brendan Kerr (E) Brendan.kerr@hscni.net, (M) 07554773972 

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Colleague

The following concessionary prices have been granted for September 2021:

DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Clomipramine 50mg capsules28£8.02
Enalapril 5mg tablets28£4.87
Eplerenone 25mg tablets28£9.94
Eplerenone 50mg tablets28£12.60
Etoricoxib 60mg tablets28£6.23
Glyceryl trinitrate 400micrograms/dose pump sublingual spray180£2.99
Glyceryl trinitrate 400micrograms/dose pump sublingual spray200£2.94
Ivabradine 5mg tablets56£8.70
Ivabradine 7.5mg tablets56£8.00
Lercanidipine 10mg tablets28£3.50
Lercanidipine 20mg tablets28£3.25
Loratadine 5mg/5ml oral solution100£6.65
Mebeverine 135mg tablets100£4.38
Nitrofurantoin 50mg capsules30£9.62
Perindopril erbumine 8mg tablets30£2.50
Pioglitazone 30mg tablets28£2.60
Pregabalin 100mg capsules84£5.04
Pregabalin 75mg capsules56£3.40
Sodium fluoride 0.05% mouthwash sugar free250£1.72
Sulfasalazine 500mg tablets112£15.81
Sulpiride 200mg tablets30£5.61
Timolol 0.25% eye drops5£5.85
Tolbutamide 500mg tablets28£24.72
Trazodone 150mg tablets28£2.90
Ursodeoxycholic acid 250mg capsules60£11.29

This is the second update of concessionary prices for September 2021.

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

SENT ON BEHALF OF
DR. GARETH C. GILVARY
Governance & Support Pharmacist

Dear Contractor

  • The Department of Health recently issued correspondence setting out the plans for the seasonal influenza vaccination programme for the coming months.
  • Community pharmacy has a central and important role in this winter’s Flu Vaccination programme and will support the programme by being able to vaccinate individuals over the age of 50 and Health and Social Care Workers (HSCW). This is the result of the tremendous response by the network in both the 2020/21 Flu vaccination service and the current COVID vaccination programme.
  • I would encourage you and your staff to continue playing a vital role in these major Public Health campaigns in Northern Ireland over the coming weeks and months.

ACTIONS

  • Contractors are asked to review the documentation associated with the Community Pharmacy Flu Vaccination Service, particularly the CPFV Service Specification and the CPFV Service Contract, when received from HSCB week commencing 20 September 2021.
  • Once received, please complete and return the Contract documentation for each pharmacy premises that will be providing the CP Flu Vaccination Service in 2021/22 to HSCB as soon as is practicable.
  • Only contact Movianto to obtain stock of the Flu vaccine after you have returned the CP Flu Vaccination service contract(s) to HSCB and are authorised to place an order.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
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 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