Archives: Contractor Email

For week ending Friday 14th May 2021

CPNI ALERTS 

Contractors will have received correspondence from CPNI this week in relation to:

• CPNI CU210514B: Cyber Security Update from the Police Service of Northern Ireland May 14, 2021
• CPNI CU210514A: COVID-CPVS Weekly Roundup May 14, 2021
• CPNI CU210513A: Reminder – Surveys Open At Present May 13, 2021
• CPNI CU210512A: HSCB Correspondence – LATERAL FLOW TESTING FOR PRIMARY CARE STAFF May 12, 2021
• CPNI CU210511B: HSCB Correspondence – Opening Funding Position And Commissioning Plan 21/22 May 11, 2021
• CPNI CU210511A: COVID-CPVS Updated Patient Resource – AstraZeneca Vaccine Extremely Rare Blood Clots May 11, 2021

Contractors are reminded that a number of surveys are open at present:

• The Repeat Prescribing Survey For Community Pharmacies is now open and is to be completed by today 14th May
• The Living Well vaccination campaign Survey is now open and the closing date has been extended to 16th May
• Thank you to the 250+ contractors who have already completed the Home Delivery Survey.  Those who have yet to complete it are asked to give their responses by 21st May

BSO ALERTS 

• General BSO Information and Circulars are available here.
  • Medicines Optimisation Regional Efficiency (MORE) Programme Letter 7th May 2021
  • HSC Policy Statement on Implementation of MORE  7th May 2021
  • Living Well 2021-22 Schedule Letter  7th May 2021
• Weekly Drug Alerts are available here.
  • MPS 2778 – Medicines Defect Information – Syonell 250mg gr tabs  4th May 2021
• Weekly Shortage Information is available here.
  • Flixotide (fluticasone propionate) 100 Accuhaler (MPS 2780)  11th May 2021
• Serious Shortage Protocols are available here.
  • SSP – Fluoxetine 40mg Capsules  **expiry date of 17 May 2021**

DOH(NI) ALERTS 

Recent correspondence is available here.

• Use of the AstraZeneca Vaccine : Advice on Updated JCVI Statement 7th May 2021
• MHRA and JCVI Announcement – AZ Vaccine Updated Contraindications 29 April 2021

HSCB ALERTS 

Recent correspondence is available here.

• Lateral Flow Tests for Asymptomatic Patient-Facing Primary Care Staff 12th May 2021

The April edition of the NI Formulary Medicines Management Newsletter is available here.

Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).

Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s
Contractor Calendar
Contractor Emails
Or report medicine shortages or pricing issues via the CPNI’s
Medicine Shortage Reporter

Many thanks

Ennis

SENT ON BEHALF OF 
Ennis Shields
Governance & Support Pharmacist

Friday 14th May 2021

Dear Colleague

Cyber attacks: Early Warning Service launched

Further to previous CPNI Contractor Updates in relation to Cyber-security security which can be accessed here, and reports in the news today of a cyber-attack on the IT systems used by the Health Service Executive in the Republic of Ireland, please find here additional information on the Early Warning Service released today by the Police Service of Northern Ireland Cyber Crime Centre

Action

Contractors are advised to:

• Read the information previously provided by CPNI on cyber security; and
• Note the information released today on the Early Warning Service which is applicable if you hold a static IP or domain name

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 and police cyber security colleagues, as well as your IT systems providers, will continue to support you in these matters

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
Prof. Mike Mawhinney 
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Friday 14th May 2021

Dear Colleague

Please find below correspondence  issued today from the HSCB on the Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service:

1. The Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service Weekly Round Up
2. Resources for assisting Patients who are Deaf or suffer from Hearing Loss
3. Updated information on Managing Cancelled Vaccine Bookings on VMS

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF 
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Thursday 13th May 2021

Dear Colleague

You are reminded that a number of surveys are open at present.  We appreciate that pharmacy contractors are extremely busy at present, however taking time to provide this essential feedback will demonstrate some of the valuable contributions being made by community pharmacy.  Please submit responses before the closing date if not already completed:

• The Repeat Prescribing For Community Pharmacies survey is now open and is to be completed by tomorrow 14th May
• The Living Well vaccination campaign Survey is now open and the closing date has been extended to 16th May
• The Home Delivery Survey is open and over half of all contractors have responded.  Those who have yet to complete it are asked to give their responses by 21st May

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF 
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Wednesday 12th May 2021

Dear Colleague

Please be aware that correspondence issued to pharmacy contractors yesterday evening from the HSCB Pharmacy and Medicines Management Unit in relation to the ordering, delivery and use of lateral flow antigen tests by patient-facing staff.  Contractors who have not yet registered to receive tests are reminded to do so using the form which can be accessed here.

The letter can be viewed in full here.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF 
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Tuesday 11th May 2021

Dear Colleague

Please be aware that correspondence issued to pharmacy contractors yesterday from Mr Joe Brogan, HSCB Assistant Director of Integrated Care and Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management.  Mr Brogan’s letter will be of interest to contractors as it provides further detail on the opening funding position and the commissioning plan 21/22.  Matters addressed in the correspondence are:

1. Pharmacy Advance Payments
2. Core Pharmacy Services (including Global Sum, Non-global Sum and Retained Purchase Profit)
3. Additional Services
4. COVID-19 Vaccination
5. Services Maintained from April until June 2021 (including Business Continuity, Staff and Premises Costs and enhanced service payments)
6. The Commissioning Plan

Contractors are asked to note the content of the letter and the commissioning plan to which it refers.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF 
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive