Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague,

Letter from Robin Swann MLA, Minister for Health to Community Pharmacy Teams

I have been asked to share this personal letter of support and recognition from Robin Swann MLA, Minister for Health for the enthusiasm, commitment and contribution by all members of the pharmacy teams across Northern Ireland during COVID19.

The Minister states that the population of Northern Ireland owes a huge debt of gratitude to community pharmacy teams and the Minister reaffirms his continued support for you and your teams efforts.

Please share this letter with your pharmacy team members.

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

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Dear Colleague

****** URGENT COVID-19 UPDATE *****

SHORT-TERM CHANGE IN ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OF OXYGEN TO NEW NURSING HOME PATIENTS – WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

Please find attached a letter from the HSC Board outlining a temporary change in the arrangements for the supply of oxygen to patients residing in nursing homes. 

The surge in the number of nursing home patients requiring oxygen over the last two weeks has depleted supplies of oxygen cylinders. To help manage demand, new concentrators have been secured centrally, therefore

IN THE SHORT-TERM NEW PATIENTS RESIDING IN NURSING HOMES REQUIRING OXYGEN SHOULD NOW BE SUPPLIED WITH OXYGEN VIA THE BOC CONTRACTED SERVICE.

In order to facilitate this, the prescriber (GP/Covid Centre/Out-of-hours Centre) will need to complete a Home-Order-Oxygen-Form (HOOF) and forward to BOC. This is available at http://www.hscbusiness.hscni.net/pdf/Home_Oxygen_Order_Form_HOOF_Part_A_non_speciaist.pdf

If a community pharmacy receives a new request for oxygen from a nursing home, they will need to advise the nursing home of the above revised process and the nursing home will need to arrange for a HOOF to be completed as above. 

It is recognised that there may still be occasions where the HS21 / community pharmacy route will be required for new patients.  If the community pharmacy is required to supply a cylinder via HS21, this should be managed in the usual way.  If community pharmacies experience any difficulties with accessing a cylinder under these circumstances, they should send an email to AQ.DOIC@hscni.net so that the issue can be raised on their behalf with BOC.

This temporary arrangement will be kept under review and further updates will be provided.

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

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Dear Colleague

Palliative Care Medicines for End of Life [EOL]

I have been asked to forward the following as undernoted to all pharmacies by Mr Joe Brogan, HSCB.

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

Email for distribution to all pharmacies: Palliative Care Medicines for End of Life (EOL)

You will be aware that HSCB has sent communication re Palliative care medicines supply and that list of medicines stocked by the Palliative Care network has been increased (see links below)

http://www.hscbusiness.hscni.net/pdf/REGIONAL%20ARRANGEMENTS%20FOR%20PALLIATIVE%20CARE%20MEDICINES%20DURING%20COVID-….pdf

http://www.hscbusiness.hscni.net/pdf/Palliative%20Care%20leaflet%20update%20070420.pdf

1. Supply chain/shortages:

HSCB continue to liaise with wholesalers on a regular basis re palliative care medicines and will advise contractors of any longterm shortages.

Today we’ve had queries re alternatives for Glycopyrronium and Levomepromazine. See table below (as per Trust palliative care pharmacists) with suitable alternatives.

This is for reference and to support pharmacists in discussions with the Prescriber re alternatives, thus avoiding any delays in patient treatment.

Anti-secretory Anti-secretory
Glycopyrronium injection 200microgram/ml 10 amps 600microgram/3ml injection is alternative Hyoscine Hydrobromide injection 400microgram/ml 10 amps
        Hyoscine Butylbromide injection 20mg/ml 10 amps
Antiemetics Antiemetics
Levomepromazine injection 25mg/ml 10 amps Cyclizine injection 50mg/ml 5 amps  
        Haloperidol injection 5mg/ml 10 amps

2. NHSCT Palliative Care App for mobile phones has been updated to include the new RPMG guidelines COVID-19: Symptom management in last days of life.

 This is for use in all settings. While this is a NHSCT endorsed App, the documentation included is all regional information (i.e. opioid conversion guide, RPMG EOL guidance and COVID guidance, Comm Pharm Pall Care Network info).

  • It is available by downloading App RxGuidelines from your App Store.  It is available by downloading App RxGuidelines from your App Store. 
  • If you already have RxGuidelines installed you must also follow the steps below to ensure you have the most up to date version.
  • Once installed go to:   Settings>>>Manage Guidelines>>>Scroll down to Palliative Care>>>Select Northern Health and Social Care Trust.

This email has also been shared with the Network/Supply CPs directly.

Thank you for you continued support during these challenging times.

Regards

Joe

Joe Brogan, Assistant Director of Integrated Care, Head of Pharmacy & Medicines Management

HSCB

Gransha Park House, Clooney Road, DERRY BT47 6FN

Dear Contractor

COVID19 Testing – Patient Information Leaflet

CPNI has been asked to circulate the attached COVID19 Testing PIL to all Contractors for dissemination to pharmacy staff members or their household contacts who attended for COVID19 testing this week from Wednesday 8th – Friday 10th April 2020.

This PIL was not available before now and is provided for information and consideration.

I trust this is helpful.

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

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Dear Colleague,

Easter Bank Holiday – Community Pharmacy Services

Further to ContractorUpdate #42 issued on Monday 6th April 2020 please find attached;

  • Letter from Joe Brogan, HSCB, giving further information related to the Easter community pharmacy arrangements, including links to pharmacy opening arrangements on a number of public web-sites.
  • Summary listings of Pharmacy opening arrangements in the five LCG areas.

I want to acknowledge and express my appreciation once again for the tremendous commitment by you and your pharmacy times in maintaining services to your patients at this time and in particular as we head into the Easter period.

I hope that you and your teams get some time over the Easter period to rest and I wish you well over the coming days and weeks.

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

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Dear Contractor

HSCB-CDHN Community and Voluntary sector Medicines Delivery Model

You will be aware of the proposed HSCB/CDHN Community and Voluntary sector medicines delivery system designed to provide a mechanism whereby volunteers could augment existing arrangements where pharmacy teams, families and the wider community are trying to meet the needs of patients in the community.

CPNI recognises that Contractors and their pharmacy teams may be approached in relation to this particular medicines delivery system and to that end the attached letter, from the Chairman and I, may provide you with further information that CPNI considers relevant.

These remain extremely challenging times for you and your pharmacy teams and we recognise that now, as always, the prime objective for contractors and pharmacists is the safe supply of the right medicine, to the right patient, at the right time throughout this COVID19 period and beyond.

Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI office or your local CPNI Board Director representative should you require any additional information.

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

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