Archives: Contractor Email

This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.

CPNI ALERTS

DOH(NI) ALERTS

BSO ALERTS

Common Disallowed Items

  • Contractors have been providing CPNI with useful information regarding some common disallowed items.
  • The following excel spreadsheet is available for contractors to review, showing some of the items that have been recently disallowed.  Please note: there may be only certain packs sizes that are disallowed.
  • If any contractor wishes to add to this list, please email the CPNI office so that this list may be updated and shared with the network accordingly.

Epilepsy Action NI Training

Epilepsy Action NI has advised CPNI that they will be running an information session on Sodium Valproate / Epilim on 14 May at 7pm online.  The training will be provided by Belfast Trust Valproate Lead Nurse, Patrice McKenna.

The session is open to members of the pharmacy team, and to patients, families and carers of those with Epilepsy or who are prescribed Sodium Valproate.  Registration is available through the Eventbrite link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/family-support-ni-sodium-valproate-epilim-information-session-tickets-1329809719669?aff=oddtdtcreator.

Daffodil Standards Northern Ireland

Reminder: Community Pharmacies across Northern Ireland can now sign up to the Daffodil Standards for palliative and end of life care.

The Daffodil Standards are a joint initiative between the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Marie Curie – Northern Ireland and provide a framework for pharmacy teams to use to build on the high standard of care already provided to palliative care patients and their families.

An ECHO session regarding palliative care and the Daffodil Standards was provided on 29 April 2025.  For those unable to attend, a recording of the session can be viewed on the ECHO moodle website here.

More information on how pharmacy teams can sign up to the Standards is available here.

Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s Contractor Calendar and Contractor Emails.

Or report medicine shortages, pricing and staffing issues via CPNI’s Medicine Pricing/Supply Reporter and Situation Reporter.

Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
Gerard Greene
Chief Executive
Update – Contractor Meeting Date

Dear Contractor,

Further to the CPNI contractor update issued on 18 April 2025 regarding community pharmacy funding and contractor meetings, CPNI wishes to confirm that the meeting will be held in Belfast on 14 May 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Shaws Bridge, Belfast, commencing at 8pm sharp.  Tea and coffee will be available from 7.30pm.

Note: While it had been proposed that a second meeting may be held in Cookstown on 15 May 2025, this will not now proceed due to logistical and scheduling clashes.  All contractors are welcome to attend the Belfast meeting.

Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office or the CPNI Director representative for your area if you require any additional information at any stage.

Kind regards,

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence here dated 2 May 2025 relating to SSP077 (cefalexin 125mg/5ml oral suspension) extending the expiry date to Friday 1 August 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.

ACTION

Contractors should:

  • Review the letter here dated 2 May 2025, and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of the extension of the expiry date of SSP077 to Friday 1 August 2025, and that they are also aware of the specific details relating to this SSP; and
  • Note 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.

Contractors are reminded of information issued by BSO ‘Serious Shortage Protocols: Submission Information for Contractors’ which can be accessed here.

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

Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence here dated 2 May 2025 relating to SSP079, SSP080, SSP081 and SSP082 (Estradot® 25mcg patches, Estradot® 50mcg patches, Estradot® 75mcg patches and Estradot® 100mcg patches) extending their expiry dates as detailed in the correspondence.

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.

ACTION

Contractors should:

  • Review the letter here dated 2 May 2025, and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of the extension of the expiry dates of SSP079, SSP080, SSP081 andSSP082 to the dates noted in the correspondence, and that they are also aware of the specific details relating to these SSPs; and
  • Note 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.

Contractors are reminded of information issued by BSO ‘Serious Shortage Protocols: Submission Information for Contractors’ which can be accessed here.

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

This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.

CPNI ALERTS

DOH(NI) ALERTS

BSO ALERTS

£1million month-end hit will cripple Community Pharmacy

CPNI issued a press release on 30th April 2025 detailing the financial impact of the new minimum wage and national insurance changes (NIC) in the first month alone.  The statement is available here and across CPNI social media channels: Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

Contractors are invited to share these posts on their social media channels.

Independent Pharmacy Awards 2025

Nominations are open for The Independent Pharmacy Awards which will take place on Thursday 2nd October 2025, at the House of Commons.  The awards are an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the brilliance and endurance of community pharmacy teams across the UK. 

There are six categories including Pharmacy Team of the Year, an award previously won by McCartans Pharmacy in Newry.

Further information is available here.

RPS Survey

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) sets the curriculum for Post-Registration Foundation Pharmacist development programmes such as the NICPLD Post-Registration Foundation course.

As a result of reforms to the GPhC/PSNI Initial Education and Training Standards, all newly qualifying pharmacists from 2026 onwards will be annotated prescribers at the point of registration.  RPS is therefore planning to revise the Post-Registration Foundation curriculum to align with the evolving roles undertaken by pharmacists in all sectors.  When finalised, the new curriculum will be referred to as the Enhanced Curriculum.

To inform development of the new curriculum, RPS is conducting a survey and would particularly welcome the views of community pharmacists.  The survey will remain open until Friday 16th May 2025.

FAO Community Pharmacies in the Belfast Area: Falls Prevention Roadshow

Community pharmacy teams may wish to share this FLYER relating to an upcoming roadshow on falls prevention with relevant patients.

Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s Contractor Calendar and Contractor Emails.

Or report medicine shortages, pricing and staffing issues via CPNI’s Medicine Pricing/Supply Reporter and Situation Reporter.

Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
Gerard Greene
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
NICPLD issued correspondence today which advises that the opt-in window for involvement in FTY 2026/2027 has been extended to 5pm on 9 May 2025.  Earlier correspondence had indicated that the window would close on 25 April 2025.

SUMMARY

  • If a pharmacy chooses to opt-in they will receive a link asking them to complete a second step where they upload their training placement details and accept the Terms of Participation. 
  • The closing date for the second step is 16 May 2025.

IMPORTANT CONTRACTOR CONSIDERATIONS

  • We would ask contractors who “opt-in” to be aware that should they then complete the second step and accept the Terms, they are considered to have given their commitment to providing the relevant placement(s) to any trainee allocated to them by the NICPLD selection process.
  • Contractors must be aware that some important aspects of the FTY 2026/2027 programme have not been finalised by NICPLD and are not likely to be available until 2026, such as the 2026/2027 Framework, Curriculum, Salary, Training Grant and programme SOPs.
  • CPNI contractor meetings will take place on 14 May (Belfast) and 15 May (Cookstown), at which arrangements relating to the 2026/2027 FTY process will be discussed.

ACTION

Contractors considering participation in the FTY 2026/2027 programme should ensure that they take the following steps prior to opting-in, uploading placement details, or accepting the Terms of Participation:

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI team or email Ennis.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive