REMINDER: Contractors who are providing the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat Winter 24/25 must submit a contract to SPPG in order to be paid for the service.
Dear Contractor
Correspondence has been issued 13 November 2024 regarding the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat.
SUMMARY
The Pharmacy First Sore Throat Service will launch on 1 December 2024 for two months initially.
Pharmacy contractors meeting the service specification are eligible to offer the service and must submit an electronic contract to notify SPPG of the intention to provide the service.
NB there is no requirement to return a signed copy of the contract.
Pharmacies that provided the pilot service last year should familiarise themselves with the revised service specification and guidance and must submit a new contract to provide the service for Winter 24/25.
Live training was provided at an ECHO session which has been recorded and is now available to view on the ECHO Moodle site for those unable to attend the live session.
For any issues with accessing the training please contact Elaine Kane at e.kane@hospiceuk.org or 02895582393.
A copy of the presentation slides are available at the BSO website.
All resources in relation to the service including promotional material will be available on the BSO website. Service posters will be provided by SPPG and should be displayed in the pharmacy.
The fees payable to pharmacy contractors for this service are:
A one-off service set-up payment of £200 per pharmacy contractor.
A consultation fee of £32 per consultation. This includes the cost of RADTs and other consumables.
The cost of the medicine supplied will be reimbursed on submission of prescriptions or pharmacy vouchers to BSO.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to read the correspondence issued by SPPG regarding the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat Winter 2024/25 and share with all relevant members of the team.
Those pharmacy contractors who have applied to offer the Pharmacy First Sore Throat Service are requested to return an electronic contract using the following link.
Please contact your Pharmacy Advisor if you have any queries regarding this letter.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
SPPG issued correspondence today providing updates on the governance arrangements in place for community pharmacist IP prescribing ciphers and prescription pads.
SUMMARY
The SPPG letter outlines an updated process by which community pharmacist IPs can apply for a HS21 prescription cipher and pad.
Information is also provided on the process to be followed for deactivation and prescription security.
The letter provides clarification on the use of community pharmacist IP HS21 prescriptions.
ACTION
Contractors are advised to:
Review the correspondence and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team.
Should you have any queries please contact a member of the CPNI team.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
SPPG issued correspondence today to community pharmacies informing that all community pharmacist NIECR access accounts were reactivated on 29 November 2024.
SUMMARY
The NIECR team noted a high volume of Community Pharmacist NIECR accounts were deactivated.
NIECR accounts automatically deactivate after 90 days of inactivity.
All deactivated community pharmacist accounts were reactivated on the 29th November.
Pharmacists can log in to their NIECR account regularly to prevent deactivation from occurring.
The NIECR team advise that there is no requirement to access a patient record in order to remain active.
Login issues can be raised using the vFire link contained within the HSCNI Portal.
Requests for password resets/reactivation of accounts take on average 1 day to be actioned by the NIECR team.
The Community Pharmacy NIECR – FAQ Document is available here.
Review the correspondence and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team.
Should you have any queries please contact a member of the CPNI team.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
** FAO Pharmacies Providing the Vaccination Service to Care Homes **
Dear Contractor
SPPG and PHA would like to know if there are options to improve and support community pharmacists in the delivery of the Vaccination Service to Care Homes and would greatly value your feedback through a short survey.
The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence here dated 10 December 2024 detailing the issuing of SSP077 and SSP078 relating to cefalexin 125mg/5ml and 250mg/5ml oral suspensions sugar free respectively. These SSPs are due to expire on Friday 31 January 2025.
BACKGROUND
SSPs made under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 are an additional tool to manage and mitigate medicines shortages.
SSPs enable community pharmacists to supply specified medicines in accordance with a protocol rather than a prescription, without needing to seek authorisation from the prescriber – saving time for patients, pharmacists and prescribers.
Pharmacists should refer to the latest versions of the existing SSPs which are now available on the Business Services Organisation dedicated page on its website HERE.
Operational guidance on the implementation of SSPs in Northern Ireland can be found on the BSO website HERE.
DETAIL
These two SSPs provide for the supply of non sugar free suspensions in place of the sugar free suspensions. Contractors and their dispensary teams should be aware of the key points outlined in the letter, particularly as they relate to the supply to patients with diabetes.
ACTION
Contractors should:
Review the letter here dated 10 December 2024 relating to SSP077 and SSP078 (cefalexin 125mg/5ml and 250mg/5ml oral suspensions sugar free respectively);
Note the key points specific to these two SSPs and note the guidance relating to the decision pathways for SSPs; notification of GPs; the need for patient/carer agreement, and action to take when this is not given; professional judgement; and actions regarding unclear quantities; and
Ensure that their dispensary teams are fully briefed.
Contractors should contact their local SPPG office in the first instance should further information be required. CPNI colleagues are also available for assistance.
Kind regards
Mike
SENT ON BEHALF OF PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY Head of Regulatory Affairs
**FOR THE ATTENTION OF PHARMACY COLLECT NI (LFD DISTRIBUTION) PHARMACIES ONLY**
Dear Contractor
SPPG have issued a reminder today regarding the Pharmacy Collect NI LFD Christmas and New Year ordering and delivery arrangements.
SUMMARY
Communication from BSO has been issued to outline the Pharmacy Collect NI LFD ordering deadlines over the Christmas and New Year period.
No orders will be processed the week commencing 23 December 2024.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to:
Read the correspondence issued by SPPG regarding the Pharmacy Collect NI LFD ordering deadlines over the Christmas and New Year period.
Please share this reminder with all relevant team members including staff who may cover this role due to annual leave etc.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
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