Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor

The Cyber Crime lead in Northern Ireland has highlighted another example of Phishing activity which has been reported in Northern Ireland.

While examples such as this may be not uncommon and URLS change frequently, the images detailed below/attached may be of a kind that end-users see over coming days.

Action

Contractors are asked to note:

1. The attached alert from the Cyber Crime Centre, and to ensure that their teams are aware that this is a variation of phishing email scams.
2. That businesses can obtain advice on safeguarding against phishing attacks at www.ncsc.gov.uk/phishing.
3. That Cyber Crime can be reported to Action Fraud 24/7 at www.actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040.

Further information can be accessed via the links on the Cyber Protect webpage HERE.

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Contractor,

Thank you for supporting the community pharmacy campaign which calls for fair funding for pharmacies. We hope the resources have been helpful when engaging with patients and the wider community.

Over the coming weeks we will be issuing campaign related video clips such as this one across our social media platforms which we would ask you to share on your own channels.  You may want to add your own experiences and perspectives.

Available here is a social media asset which you may wish to add to your social media channels with the following copy running alongside: Underfunding means that community pharmacies across Northern Ireland can no longer guarantee that you will get the medicines you need, when you need them.  Please call into your local pharmacy to find out how you can support the campaign.

The petition is running until the week ending the 10th of May and if you need additional petition copies they are available here.

Your support of the campaign is working as we have been contacted directly by MLAs who have received correspondence from concerned constituents regarding the need for fair funding for pharmacies to help guarantee the supply of medication to patients in Northern Ireland.

I would encourage you to make your pharmacists and the wider pharmacy team aware of the campaign and the important impact patients and customers can make in supporting it.

Thank you again for your support.

Yours sincerely,

Dear Contractor

The Pharmacy Technician Regulation Project group is currently conducting a survey to gather information on the qualifications held (or being worked towards) by those in technician roles in hospital and community pharmacy settings.

SUMMARY

• A poster has been provided to help raise awareness of the pharmacy technician qualification survey.
• The March edition of the Pharmacy Technician Regulation Newsletter contains background information on the technician registration project and updates on progress to date.

ACTION

Contractors should:

• Note the contents of the Pharmacy Technician Newsletters and bring to the attention of relevant members of the pharmacy team.
• Display the information poster including the survey link in their staff area.
• Advise technicians and support staff to join the Technician Regulation Project mailing list to receive all relevant updates.

Contractors should contact CPNI offices should they have any queries on the Pharmacy Technician Regulation Project.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor,

NICPLD has advised CPNI that an email has been issued to pharmacies involved in the 2023/2024 Experiential Learning (EL) programme, providing feedback on placements to date, and information regarding the 2024/2025 programme.

SUMMARY

NICPLD has advised that the correspondence sent to EL providers includes:

• A newsletter summarising the feedback received from participants to date.
• Details of the student placement allocation timetable in  the 2024/2025 academic year:

Placement Block 1	Placement Block 2	Placement Block 3
07/10/24	13/01/25	17/02/25
14/10/24	20/01/25	24/02/25
21/10/24	27/01/25	03/03/25
04/11/24	03/02/25	10/03/25

• A survey asking providers to express their willingness to host students during the designated weeks in 2024/2025, with a survey completion date of 21 May 2024.
• Details of the training to be provided for Practice Supervisors.

ACTION

• Contractors involved in the EL programme should review the NICPLD correspondence and newsletter, and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team.
• Contractors wishing to provide EL placements in the 2024/2025 period should complete the expression of interest survey by 21 May 2024.
• Contractors, including those who have not previously been involved in the EL programme, can contact NICPLD EL Lead Helen Hirst, should they require further information.

Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact a member of the CPNI team.

Kind regards,

Dear Colleague

The final update of concessionary prices were granted today for April 2024:

Drug	Pack Size	Concessionary Price
Benzylpenicillin 600mg powder for solution for injection vials	2	£5.95
Cabergoline 500microgram tablets	8	£19.84
Chlorphenamine 2mg/5ml oral solution sugar free	150	£3.24
Co-amoxiclav 250mg/62mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	100	£2.07
Co-beneldopa 12.5mg/50mg capsules	100	£4.96
Diethylstilbestrol 1mg tablets	28	£104.49
Enalapril 10mg tablets	28	£0.72
Fluticasone 400microgram/unit dose nasal drops	30	£16.90
Fusidic acid 2% cream	15	£1.96
Fusidic acid 2% cream	30	£3.78
Ispaghula husk 3.5g effervescent granules sachets gluten free sugar free	30	£6.39
Itraconazole 100mg capsules	15	£10.35
Lamotrigine 200mg tablets	56	£4.81
Lisinopril 20mg / Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg tablets	28	£8.43
Mercaptopurine 50mg tablets	25	£8.73
Metoprolol 100mg tablets	28	£2.69
Mometasone 0.1% cream	30	£3.73
Moxonidine 200microgram tablets	28	£5.36
Olanzapine 20mg tablets	28	£1.66
Pregabalin 100mg capsules	84	£2.13
Prochlorperazine 5mg tablets	28	£1.81
Quetiapine 300mg tablets	60	£6.99
Ropinirole 1mg tablets	84	£33.84
Salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml nebuliser liquid unit dose vials	20	£16.99
Sitagliptin 100mg/5ml oral solution sugar free	150	£49.00

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

REMINDER: SPPG have issued a reminder to those pharmacies who have yet to send in a return with the number of patients currently being provided with adherence support.

Dear Contractor

Correspondence has been issued by SPPG 4th April 2024 regarding Community Pharmacy Adherence Support.

SUMMARY

• Since 1st May 2023 the Drug Tariff has been changed so that instalment dispensing is an exception facility for use only where the prescriber considers it essential to prevent abuse or misuse.
• As public funding is being utilised to support community pharmacies in meeting their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), SPPG are requesting information on the number of patients currently being provided with adherence support.
• Adherence support includes provision of a Monitored Dosage System (MDS), pill crushers, reminder charts/alarms, or dexterity aids.
• All patients receiving adherence support should be included with the following exceptions:
  • Patients who reside in Care Homes whose medicines are provided via MDS.
  • Patients with an instalment endorsement to prevent misuse or abuse of their medicines i.e. dispensing in skillets for daily or weekly patients. Please note: where these patients receive a form of adherence support such as MDS, they should be included on your list. There are instances where a patient receives both instalment dispensing and adherence support.
  • Patients who do not require support as a reasonable adjustment under DDA but for whom the pharmacy still provide adherence support e.g. requested for convenience.
• The quarterly adherence return which was previously required will now be stood down.

ACTION

• Contractors are asked to review the reminder issued by SPPG 26th April 2024 regarding Community Pharmacy Adherence Support and share with relevant team members.
• SPPG are requesting those pharmacies who have yet to send a return to do so by using the following link by Friday 3rd May 2024. 
• The quarterly adherence return will now be stood down and is no longer required.
• Guidance is available which provides information to community pharmacies in relation to their statutory requirements under DDA.

For any further information please contact CPNI offices.

Kind regards