Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor
PHA have issued communication today 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.
  • Should you have any further questions please contact pha.immunisation@hscni.net.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Contractor,

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.

If you have any queries in relation to this service please contact  Breege.Brogan@hscni.net or Mary.McIlvenna@hscni.net.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
DHNI has written to contractors (here) enclosing a link to the online controlled drug declaration and self-assessment for 2025 which is mandated under The Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.

Action

Contractors are reminded that this online questionnaire must be completed by 11 April 2025.

If you have any queries regarding the completion of the questionnaire, in the first instance please contact Michelle Keatings (02890 520230) michelle.keatings@health-ni.gov.uk or Claire O’Reilly (02890 520219) claire.oreilly@health-ni.gov.uk.

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Colleague
The final update of concessionary prices were granted today for February 2025:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Desmopressin 240microgram sublingual tablets sugar free30£36.32
Paracetamol 500mg effervescent tablets100£6.99
Purified water5000£3.55
Water for injections 10ml ampoules10£2.95
The following concessionary prices granted in February 2025 have rolled over to March 2025:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Calamine lotion200£1.78
Colestyramine 4g oral powder sachets50£15.95
Nitrazepam 5mg tablets28£1.70
Rizatriptan 10mg orodispersible tablets sugar free3£8.18

Concessionary prices will be paid against the usual code, no additional endorsements are needed.

Please continue to notify CPNI of any pricing issues you are experiencing via our Medicine Shortage Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Contractor

The Department of Health NI has launched a consultation on the introduction of a ‘Being Open Framework’ in Northern Ireland.  The closing date is 21 March 2025 at 5.00pm.  The full suite of documents may be accessed here on the DoH website.

CPNI will be responding to the consultation.  We would welcome any comments which you may have to inform this response which should be sent to Mike or Ennis before 12 March 2025.  Alternatively, you can respond directly to the consultation via the link provided in the consultation document.

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs