Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague

In response to potential protests in the coming days, SPPG has issued further correspondence today to community pharmacy contractors regarding GP closures.

SUMMARY

The SPPG letter details:

• GP practices have also been issued with communication advising of the steps required in the event of the GP practice closing.
• GP practices have been advised to put in place appropriate arrangements to manage prescriptions including prescription ordering, prescription issue to patients, and pharmacy collection.
• Notification of closure of some Trust premises and GP practices. Closing times may be subject to change as the situation evolves.

ACTION

Contractors should:

• Read and note the SPPG correspondence issued today and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team.
• Refer to the contractor updates CU#240808C and CU#240807A issued regarding potential community pharmacy closures due to protests.
• Note that CPNI contingency plan resources are available here.

If you require any further advice in relation to this, please contact your local SPPG Office.

Kind regards

The survey completion date has been extended until Wednesday 14th August 2024 in order to give contractors a further opportunity to complete the survey on rota provision. Many thanks for the information provided to date.

Dear Contractor,

As you will be aware, CPNI have been liaising with SPPG on rota provision across Northern Ireland. As part of the review, we are looking at the funding for providing the rota service. SPPG have asked CPNI to gather evidence to support their funding bids. If you are involved in rota, CPNI is asking that you complete this SURVEY by 5pm on Wednesday 14th August.

Any information you provide will only be shared with SPPG in a collated way so that no contractor would be identifiable.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office if you require any further information.

Yours sincerely,

Dear Contractor

Correspondence regarding the Autumn 2024-25 Vaccination Programme has been issued 8th August 2024 by PHA.

While the exact details and service specifications are to be finalised, PHA have indicated that they wish to share information about what they expect in this year’s JCVI COVID-19 and Flu vaccination programmes.  Please note, this information may be subject to change pending final policy statements from Department of Health.

SUMMARY

The correspondence outlines:

• the anticipated cohorts eligible for flu and COVID-19 vaccinations;
• the timing of the vaccination programme;
• the vaccines that are likely to be used.

ACTION

• Contractors are asked to review the correspondence issued 8th August 2024 and bring 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

Dear Colleague

Further to CPNI contractor update CU#240807A in relation to public disorder, SPPG has today issued correspondence to community pharmacy contractors regarding potential closures required due to protests.

SUMMARY

The SPPG letter states:

• The safety of staff and patients is paramount at all times.
• If you feel that your Pharmacy needs to close due to safety concerns, please ensure the following steps are implemented where possible:
  • Inform your local Primary Care Office
  • Display a notice and update website/social media
  • Inform local GP Practices as soon as possible
  • Assess and action outstanding urgent prescription issues
  • If your pharmacy provides additional essential services such as palliative care, needle exchange and opioid substitution treatment, consider arrangements to ensure continuity of care for affected patients
  • Ensure security arrangements are robust and activated in relation to stock

ACTION

Contractors should:

• Read and note the SPPG correspondence and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team.

Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI Office on 028 9069 0444 for further advice or support.

Kind regards

CPNI wishes to thank all those who have already completed this important survey, the findings of which will help CPNI advocate for equitable technician resourcing for the community pharmacy sector.  For those who have not yet completed the survey, the closing date has been extended to Friday 16 August.

Dear Contractor

To enable CPNI to represent the community pharmacy sector in the planning underway to introduce the regulation and registration of technicians in Northern Ireland, CPNI is asking all pharmacy contractors to complete our 2024 Community Pharmacy Technician Workforce Survey.  The closing date for the survey has been extended to Friday 16 August 2024. To assist contractors, CPNI has developed an 18 minute recorded presentation which provides the background to technician registration, the work carried out to date, the purpose of the CPNI survey and some important points to consider when providing your responses.

SUMMARY

• The CPNI Community Pharmacy Survey is available here.
• The CPNI recorded presentation is available here.
• A copy of the presentation slides is available here.
• Background information on the pharmacy technician regulation and development project is available on the DoH website here.
• The DoH 2020 pharmacy workforce survey report is available here.
• The CPNI 2019 pharmacy workforce report is available here.

ACTION

Contractors are asked to:

• View and note the information provided in the CPNI presentation.
• Complete the CPNI Community Pharmacy Technician Workforce survey 2024, by no later than Friday 16 August 2024.

Please note that it is important that Contractors complete this survey as the findings will be crucial for CPNI in advocating for equitable resourcing to support the technician workforce in the community sector, as required to sustain the community pharmacy workforce going forward.

Should you have any queries, please contact a member of the team or email your query to Ennis.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor,

CPNI is facilitating the establishment of Contractor WhatsApp Groups to help support communication and to encourage engagement on key community pharmacy topics, at a local level.

Previously established groups will continue to facilitate day-to-day pharmacy business related discussions.

Contractors are invited to join the WhatsApp groups relevant to their pharmacy(ies) by clicking the link below to the area(s) in which they would like to be included. Please note that these groups are open to contractors only or a nominated staff member. It will be for contractors to decide who they share the joining link with.

We would ask you to please state your name, pharmacy and role when joining the group.

Contractor WhatsApp Groups:

LCG	Area
Northern	Antrim/Ballymena Causeway East Antrim Mid Ulster
South Eastern	Ards Down North Down Lisburn
Belfast	North Belfast East Belfast South Belfast West Belfast
Southern	Armagh and Dungannon Craigavon and Banbridge Newry and Mourne
Western	Northern Sector Southern Sector

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Kind regards,