The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence (dated 17 July 2024) in relation to nine serious shortage protocols (SSPs) which have been issued for quetiapine 150mg, 200mg and 300mg immediate release tablets (SSP062 to SSP070 inclusive). These SSPs are introduced with immediate effect and expire on Friday 13 September 2024.
Overview
Depending on the prescribed quantity of the affected quetiapine immediate release tablet, the protocols allow pharmacists to either supply a reduced quantity of the same quetiapine immediate release tablet, or substitute with an alternative strength, or provide a reduced quantity of a specific alternative product. For each SSP, DHSC has included specific patients counselling points which must be taken into account when deciding whether supply in accordance with an SSP is suitable for a patient. Pharmacists will need to call on their clinical expertise to determine which SSP is the most appropriate to use in each scenario and to counsel patients on any changes made to their treatment and what it means for their medicine regimen.
Only one SSP can be used against an individual prescription. Therefore, in each scenario, the pharmacist will need to consider both the pharmacy’s stock levels of different quetiapine immediate release tablets strengths and the patient’s circumstances before determining which of the SSPs is most appropriate to use. Depending on the SSP used, the change in supply may require additional counselling to ensure that the patient is confident to take their medication.
Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF Gerard Greene Chief Executive
Dear Contractor,
SPPG issued this update earlier today relating to the global IT issues currently affecting some systems.
CPNI have been liaising with SPPG, PMR providers and wholesalers on the issue. At this stage community pharmacy PMR systems do not appear to be affected by the issue, however pharmacy teams may have to deal with the consequences of the IT outage on others e.g. affected GP practices etc.
Patients should be advised to order their repeat prescriptions in the normal way when their repeat prescriptions are due and if a GP practice is affected by the IT issue the practice will be able to advise patients accordingly.
CPNI have prepared a social media card that you may wish to use on your social media channels.
Community Pharmacies are reminded that they can provide an urgent supply of a patient’s regular prescription medicines (excluding Controlled Drugs Schedules 1,2&3) where they are unable to obtain a prescription.
SPPG have issued correspondence on 18th July regarding the Living Well Service.
SUMMARY
The ‘Live longer and stronger’ campaign is to begin on 1st August 2024.
Various resources will be provided and if these are not received by 31st July 2024, SPPG have asked community pharmacies to email reception.pha@hscni.net immediately and title the subject heading as ‘LIVING WELL PHARMACY CAMPAIGN’.
Replacement resources cannot be provided if not reported by 7th August 2024.
Social media posts released by PHA can be shared on social media channels to increase the reach of the campaign. Details of this schedule along with printable resources can be found here.
The campaign for ‘MMR vaccination’ will finish on 31st July 2024, and the survey will open on 5th August 2024 at 9am and will close 2nd September 2024 at 6pm.
When completing the required survey, please ensure to use the correct contractor number.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to read the correspondence issued by SPPG on 18th July 2024 regarding the Living Well Service and share with all relevant members of the team.
The next campaign ‘Live longer and stronger’ begins on 1st August 2024 and if resources are not received by 31st July 2024, email reception.pha@hscni.net immediately. Please ensure the email subject is titled ‘LIVING WELL PHARMACY CAMPAIGN’. Failure to report this by 7th August 2024 will result in no resources being provided.
The current campaign ‘MMR vaccination’ will finish on 31st July 2024 and the survey will run from 5th August 2024 until 2nd September 2024.
On completion of the survey, contractors are asked to take a picture of the confirmation text and/or tick the box to save a copy of your survey answers.
Any queries regarding the content of this letter can be directed to your local primary care office, or alternatively please contact a member of the CPNI team.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
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