Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor

Specials Supplement Newsletter

HSCB has issued a newsletter giving detailed information on the prescribing and dispensing of specials (attached).

Summary

The newsletter is aimed at both prescribers and community pharmacists and covers a number of key areas including:

• The cost of specials;
• Legal issues;
• Manufacturers and suppliers; and
• Detailed information on specific specials.

The newsletter also describes action points for community pharmacists as below:

• Alert the GP to the unlicensed nature and cost of any prescribed ‘special’ before it is procured (GPs are often not aware from GP clinical systems that a product is a ‘special’) and advise on alternative licensed products where available.
• Pharmacists are encouraged to ensure that the Health Service secures good value from its expenditure, and pharmacists should bear this in mind in the procurement of ‘specials’.
• The price of an individual ‘special’ can vary greatly from one manufacturer to another. Pharmacists should be aware of this when placing an order for a ‘special’.
• If in doubt about ordering a ‘special’, contact a HSCB Pharmacy Advisor before ordering.
• Vitamin D nutritional supplements should be ordered via usual pharmacy wholesalers, rather than placing an order for a ‘special’ as this is associated with higher costs.
• A written Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) should be in place, detailing the steps involved in the ordering of ‘specials’ including risk assessments of the different options available.

Action

Contractors are asked to:

1. Be aware of the issues highlighted in the newsletter; and
2. Bring these to the attention of the dispensary team.

The CPNI team will continue to update you on these matters.

Kind regards

Mike

Sent on behalf of Prof Mike Mawhinney | Head of Regulatory Affairs

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Dear Colleague

Please find attached correspondence from Dr. Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer and Prof. Charlotte McArdle, Chief Nursing Officer.

CPNI continues to engage with Department and HSCB colleagues on COVID-19 vaccination and we are considering the potential role for community pharmacy as part of the wider vaccination programme, noting the significant logistical challenges with some of the vaccine candidates that mean initial efforts are mainly focused on mass vaccination centres at present.

Trained vaccinators can express their interest in supporting the programme on a sessional basis (pharmacy capacity permitting), through the given link  https://www.hscworkforceappeal.co.uk/

Yours sincerely

Vanessa

Sent on behalf of Dr Vanessa Chambers | Head of Policy & Development

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Dear Colleague,

*** Prescribing Management – Contractor Feedback ***

In October 2020, HSCB issued the attached guidance for the management of repeat prescriptions.

The guidance covers the following areas:

• Arrangements for ordering prescriptions
• Management of inappropriate requests for prescriptions
• Prescription collection arrangements from GP practices
• Quantities on prescriptions/repeat prescription intervals
• Faxing, phoning or email of prescriptions
• Management of queries between Community Pharmacy and GP practice

Ahead of a further workshop between CPNI and GP practice representatives, it would be helpful if any contractors who are experiencing ongoing issues with local practices in the management of prescriptions, could complete the attached template and email to CPNI offices info@communitypharmacyni.co.uk by

12 noon on Thursday 19^th November 2020.

Please note any feedback received from contractors will be collated and reported on an anonymous basis to the HSCB.

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

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Dear Colleague

The following concessionary prices have been granted for November 2020:

Drug	Pack Size	Concessionary Price
Ciprofloxacin 250mg tablets	10	£1.95
Ciprofloxacin 500mg tablets	10	£5.52
Duloxetine 20mg gastro-resistant capsules	28	£9.98
Duloxetine 30mg gastro-resistant capsules	28	£2.37
Duloxetine 60mg gastro-resistant capsules	28	£4.56
Enalapril 10mg tablets	28	£4.99
Enalapril 20mg tablets	28	£10.20
Esomeprazole 20mg gastro-resistant tablets	28	£3.99
Hydrocortisone 2.5% cream	15g	£44.00
Irbesartan 300mg / Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg tablets	28	£14.31
Lamotrigine 100mg tablets	56	£6.18
Lamotrigine 50mg tablets	56	£4.80
Moxonidine 200microgram tablets	28	£9.10
Moxonidine 300microgram tablets	28	£10.50
Moxonidine 400microgram tablets	28	£8.16
Olanzapine 15mg tablets	28	£4.20
Olanzapine 20mg tablets	28	£4.97
Oxytetracycline 250mg tablets	28	£8.31
Rasagiline 1mg tablets	28	£10.05

This is the first update of concessionary prices for November 2020.

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.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website www.communitypharmacyni.co.uk

Kind regards,

Gareth

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GARETH C. GILVARY | Governance & Support Pharmacist

Dear Colleague

Cyber Security – Community Pharmacies

You will be aware that cyber security is a global issue and that systems worldwide are being continually targeted to access data and financial assets.  It would appear that no system – personal or corporate – is immune from these attacks.  If you are a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME), the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) estimates that there is around a 1 in 2 chance that you will experience a cyber security breach.

CPNI has become aware of incidents within the community pharmacy sector outside Northern Ireland where attempts have been made to interfere with the data held.

Community pharmacies hold a large volume of sensitive personal and financial data and any breach of the security systems protecting this information could be very damaging to the economic stability of the business and the welfare of patients.  It may also leave contractors open to possible punitive action by the Information Commissioner’s Office under DPA and GDPR legislation, with resulting reputational damage to the individual and the profession.

CPNI has been working closely with the cyber security lead from the Police Service of Northern Ireland who has held discussions with a number of contractors here to understand the challenges that contractors face in managing their data.  There is a range of potentially vulnerable devices within the community pharmacy setting including PMR systems (which may be supported to varying levels by the supplier), and extending to routers, laptops, mobile phones and printers.

Several initiatives have arisen from this collaborative work with the police (which draws on information produced by the National Cyber Security Centre), and from discussions with Prof Colin Adair, NICPLD.

In collaboration with the police cyber security team and NICPLD, CPNI will:

1. Forward guidance issued by the police detailing five key steps that can be taken to improve cyber security (attached);
2. Forward regular cyber security updates;
3. Contribute to the development of an eLearning programme to be launched by NICPLD in early 2021; and
4. Host a virtual training evening led by the police cyber security team.

The step-by-step packages in (a) above cover the areas detailed below and further information can be accessed by clicking on the topic headline in the guidance:

• Backing up your data
• Protecting your organisation from malware
• Keeping your smartphones (and computer tablets) safe
• Using passwords to protect your data
• Avoiding phishing attacks

Following the relevant advice in the guidance packages and in the eLearning programme will significantly increase your protection against the most common types of cyber crime.  The topics covered are easily understood and cost little to implement.  While this guidance cannot guarantee protection from all types of cyber attack, it does demonstrate how simple steps can greatly contribute to the protection of your data, assets, and reputation.

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

CPNI team and police colleagues will be happy to further assist you where necessary.

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

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Dear Contractor

Update on the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) in Northern Ireland post 31 December 2020

Background

As you are aware, the UK has left the EU and the Transition Period ends on 31 December 2020.

On that date, some regulatory requirements will no longer apply but certain EU legislation will continue to have effect in Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Protocol (NIP) (part of the UK’s Withdrawal Agreement with the EU).

The UK FMD Working Group for Community Pharmacy has issued an update outlining the position of the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) in Northern Ireland post 31 December 2020 (attached).

Summary

Under the terms of the NIP, the FMD will still apply in Northern Ireland, for at least four years (until the NIP is due to be reviewed).

• All end users in Northern Ireland, including pharmacy contractors, will remain connected to the UK National Medicines Verification System (UKMVS) run by SecurMed UK.  They need to continue to verify and decommission any packs with FMD safety features (unique identifiers and anti-tamper devices) in line with the requirements of relevant EU and UK medicines legislation.

• SecurMed UK will continue to provide end user registration and necessary support to enable Northern Ireland end users to decommission packs with FMD identifier features into 2021 and beyond.

Action

Contractors are asked to:

1. Ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of the content of this letter;
2. Ensure that their pharmacy is registered with SecurMed UK (https://securmed.org.uk/what-do-you-want-to-do/registration-process/) if not already registered; and
3. Continue to verify and decommission FMD-compliant packs of prescription medicines.  Refresher training should be carried out if needed.

For further guidance please contact your software supplier in the first instance, and check for further help on the SecurMed UK website (www.securmed.org.uk).

The CPNI team will continue to support you on these matters.

Kind regards

Mike

Sent on behalf of Prof Mike Mawhinney | Head of Regulatory Affairs

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