Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague
Please find correspondence HERE from Kathryn Turner, Pharmacy Lead, Strategic Planning and Performance Group.

SUMMARY

  • The Community Pharmacy Emergency Supply during a Pandemic Service commenced on Monday 6 April 2020 in order to ensure continuity of supply of essential repeat medicines to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The purpose of this letter is to confirm that the pandemic service can continue to be provided in its current format whilst formalised funding arrangements are being finalised for the 2022/23 year.
  • To inform the development of the routine emergency supply service a community pharmacy survey, capturing data on all patients who requested an emergency supply was undertaken. A summary of the survey’s findings can be viewed HERE.
  • Feedback from other key stakeholders will also be sought to inform the development of the updated emergency supply service.

ACTION

  • Contractors are asked to review the correspondence.
  • If contractors have any queries about the service, please contact your local SPPG Integrated Care Office.
  • Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office should you require any further information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams, including details of the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BSO ALERTS 

CPNI ALERTS 

SPPG ALERTS 

DoH(NI) ALERTS 

Transition of the Operation Control of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme to the PHA 5 April 2022

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, pricing and staffing issues via the CPNI’s Medicine Shortage Reporter and Situation Reporter.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF 
DR. GARETH C. GILVARY
Governance & Support Pharmacist
Dear Colleague
Please find correspondence HERE from Kathryn Turner, Pharmacy Lead, Strategic Planning and Performance Group.
SUMMARY
“Know Check Ask” is the first campaign of the Living Well schedule 2022/2023 and was due to commence yesterday, 4 April 2022, has been DELAYED. It is hoped that community pharmacies are able to start the campaign and the new schedule as soon as possible. Evaluations for the last campaign, “Making Healthier Choices”, can now be submitted. This survey is available from 4 April 2022 and should be completed by 2 May 2022. It can be accessed at HERE.It is vital that all pharmacies contracted to provide “Living Well” submit their evaluation survey after each campaign as it allows data to be collated to demonstrate the value and impact of the service to other sectors. Compliance will be monitored with the service requirements, in particular evaluation submission. Where failure has been identified to comply, such as failure to submit evaluation data, the right to recover all, or part of, this funding via an adjustment to the pharmacy’s BSO payment account is reserved.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to review the correspondence. Submit evaluations for the last campaign, “Making Healthier Choices” by 2 May 2022. It can be accessed at HERE. Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office should you require any further information.

Kind regards

Dear Colleague
NICPLD has launched a cybersecurity eLearning programme jointly edited by Sam Kinkaid and myself, and which can be accessed through the NICPLD portal HERE.

The programme is designed to give an overview of the current cybersecurity threat and details preventative measures that can be taken by contractors.  Completion of the course takes two hours which can be credited against CPD requirements.

ACTION

Contractors are asked to:

  • Note the eLearning cybersecurity package now available through the NICPLD portal.
  • Ensure that all pharmacists within your team are aware of the eLearning package and are encouraged to complete it. Contractors should also make other relevant team members aware of its content.

Contractors are reminded that the storage and back up of patient sensitive data and any amendments to your systems should only be carried out in line with advice from your IT or email supplier, PMR system provider and in line with Data Protection legislation.

CPNI colleagues will be happy to further advise on these matters.

Kind regards – Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF. MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams, including details of the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BSO ALERTS

CPNI ALERTS 

HSCB ALERTS 

Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).
Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s Contractor Calendar or Contractor Emails.

Or report medicine shortages, pricing and staffing issues via the CPNI’s Medicine Shortage Reporter or Situation Reporter.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF 
DR. GARETH C. GILVARY
Governance & Support Pharmacist
Dear Colleague
Please find correspondence HERE from Helen Parr, Information Pharmacist Health and Social Care Board.

SUMMARY

  • The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) closed on Thursday 31 March 2022, following which the functions of the Board will move to the Department of Health Northern Ireland.
  • To date Patient Group Directions have been authorised by the HSCB, including those currently in use. The Department of Health (NI) will be providing final authorisation on all such PGDs going forwards.
  • All HSCB authorised PGDs currently in use have been re-authorised under the auspices of the Department of Health and can continue to be used.

ACTION

  • Contractors are asked to review the correspondence.
  • If you have any queries in relation to this please do not hesitate to contact Helen Parr Information Pharmacist, Health and Social Care Board (E) helen.parr@hscni.net (T) 07794 615335.
  • Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office should you require any further information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive