For the Attention of Community Pharmacies Providing the Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) Service
Dear Colleague
SPPG have issued correspondence on 28 February 2025 here and on 7 March 2025 here regarding the community pharmacy OST service.
SUMMARY
The community pharmacy role in OST optimises compliance and minimises the risk of diversion of prescribed medication to the illicit market.
In 2023/24, more than 34K OST prescriptions were dispensed by over 150 community pharmacies in NI.
In order to enhance governance arrangements and ensure more timely payment of the retainer fee, SPPG and CPNI have agreed a service specification and a contract for the delivery of the OST service.
Resources are available to support the community pharmacists in their role as an OST provider here, and training is provided by NICPLD.
As some pharmacies may not be currently in a position of compliance with all aspects of the service specification, SPPG have developed a questionnaire to obtain feedback on areas where additional support may be required.
SPPG have requested the questionnaire to be completed by Friday 14 March 2025.
It is not necessary to return a signed contract at this time. Further correspondence will be issued in relation to completion of the contract.
For any contractors who have already returned a contract, this will be acknowledged by SPPG.
Going forward, pharmacies with a contract for OST service will provide a benchmark for service provision for future opportunities to further enhance the range of services that are complimentary to OST.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to review the correspondence issued by SPPG on 28 February 2025 here and on 7 March 2025 here and share with all relevant team members.
Please contact Michael McCabe (michael.mccabe@hscni.net), Pharmacy Adviser if you have any further queries.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Colleague,
SPPG have issued correspondence regarding the Community Pharmacy Assurance Framework on 27 February 2025.
SUMMARY
SPPG is seeking completion of the Community Pharmacy Assurance Framework (CPAF) declaration form for your pharmacy, for the 2024/25 year.
The aim and purpose of the framework is to monitor compliance with Terms of Service, service specifications, related professional standards and best practice guidance.
SPPG has recently worked with CPNI to review, update and agree the Assurance framework for the 2024/25 year.
The declaration form is now to be completed by Monday10 March 2025 on MS forms using the following link here.
A payment of £1200 will be made to each pharmacy, upon return of the completed declaration for compliance with the CPAF process in 2024/25.
Last year community pharmacies will have submitted a copy of their practice leaflet and complaints procedure alongside their CPAF declaration for 2023/24. If either of these has changed since last year’s submission, SPPG have requested a copy to be emailed to your local Primary Care Office by 31 March 2025.
The resumed CPAF visits will continue as per the SPPG process, and pharmacies will be contacted directly if selected for a visit.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to review the correspondence issued by SPPG on 27 February 2025 and share with all relevant team members.
Please contact your Pharmacy Advisor at local offices for any queries regarding this correspondence.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
PHA have issued communicationtoday regarding the Spring 2025 COVID-19 Vaccination Programme to provide some early operational detail.
Further correspondence regarding the Spring Programme will be issued over the coming days.
SUMMARY
The communication outlines:
The eligible cohorts.
The expected start date.
The vaccines to be used.
Ordering and delivery dates.
The recording of vaccinations.
Training.
ACTION
Ensure this communication is brought to the attention of pharmacy team members involved in the community pharmacy vaccination service.
CPNI representatives attended the Health Committee this afternoon to further highlight the concerns regarding community pharmacy funding and the impact this is having on community pharmacy teams, community pharmacy services and ultimately patients. In advance of the Health Committee meeting, CPNI were notified by SPPG of an enhanced opening funding position for 2025/26. This included an increase in the retained margin from £31.5m to £34m. One notable aspect that has been confirmed is that the discount (clawback) applied to appliances will be reduced from 10.39% to 0% from 1st April 2025. This is one element that CPNI have been lobbying hard for over many months and is a much needed change. While this intervention is welcome, it does not address the full extent of the funding deficit that exists.
CPNI has also received confirmation that the balance of the 2024/25 DDRB uplift (£2.45m) has been approved and is working with SPPG to ensure this is released to the network as soon as possible.
CPNI Board will be meeting next week to discuss this further and the network will be updated accordingly.
Yours sincerely,
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
REMINDER: For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing Community Pharmacy Care Home Support Service (CPCHSS)
Dear Contractor
Correspondence has been issued 7 February 2025 by SPPG to those pharmacies involved in the Community Pharmacy Care Home Support Service (CPCHSS).
SUMMARY
A requirement for the Community Care Home Support Service is to complete two care home visits each financial year.
The second care home visit is due to be completed by the end of March 2025.
SPPG have introduced a process for partial recuperation of payments made to community pharmacists who are contracted to provide the service but have not completed the required visits in line with service specification.
SPPG will be in contact in early April to seek confirmation and dates of the visits completed during 24/25 year.
ACTION
Contractors should read the correspondence issued by SPPG 7 February 2025.
Any pharmacy yet to complete the second required care home visit should organise a date before the end of March 2025.
Please share this information with all relevant members of the team.
SENT ON BEHALF OF PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY Head of Regulatory Affairs
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