Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague
The second update of concessionary prices were granted yesterday for December 2023:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Amiodarone 200mg tablets28£1.83
Azithromycin 250mg capsules6£1.73
Carbocisteine 250mg/5ml oral solution300£6.86
Chlorphenamine 2mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£3.65
Cinacalcet 30mg tablets28£7.18
Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension70£4.43
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg tablets30£1.32
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg tablets100£4.40
Colecalciferol 1,000unit capsules30£7.69
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml eye drops5£3.43
Doxazosin 4mg tablets28£0.91
Escitalopram 10mg tablets28£1.27
Etoricoxib 90mg tablets28£2.90
Fludrocortisone 100microgram tablets30£6.32
Haloperidol 5mg tablets28£4.62
Hydrocortisone 1% cream15£2.80
Hydrocortisone 1% cream30£3.35
Hydrocortisone 1% cream50£2.96
Ketoconazole 2% shampoo120£19.40
Lamotrigine 100mg tablets56£4.07
Lansoprazole 15mg gastro-resistant capsules28£0.93
Lansoprazole 15mg orodispersible tablets28£2.84
Memantine 10mg/ml oral solution sugar free50£45.03
Metformin 500mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£27.90
Montelukast 10mg tablets28£2.68
Montelukast 5mg chewable tablets sugar free28£1.21
Morphine sulfate 10mg/5ml oral solution300£5.45
Oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free250£9.60
Piroxicam 0.5% gel60£2.12
Piroxicam 0.5% gel112£3.96
Pyridostigmine bromide 60mg tablets200£28.00
Rasagiline 1mg tablets28£20.23
Risperidone 1mg/ml oral solution sugar free100£3.16
Risperidone 2mg tablets60£2.03
Risperidone 4mg tablets60£2.39
Simvastatin 80mg tablets28£1.95
Sodium valproate 200mg/5ml oral solution sugar free300£10.21
Sulpiride 200mg tablets30£3.44
Sulpiride 200mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£102.45
Timolol 0.5% eye drops5£1.89

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,
Correspondence has been issued 15th December by SPPG relating to the Pharmacy First Service for uncomplicated lower Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in women aged 16 to 64 years and can be accessed via this link.

Summary

This correspondence includes:

  • A link to the providers list on the BSO website which can be viewed here.
  • A link for any pharmacies who have yet to submit the service contract to SPPG.
  • A link to some FAQs and all service resources.
  • A link to help pharmacies promote the service on Facebook and Instagram.

Action

Contractors are asked to:

  • Please read the correspondence issued 15th December 2023 by SPPG and share with relevant members of your pharmacy team.
  • For any pharmacies that haven’t submitted their contract and wish to do so please use the following link. SPPG will monitor and update the list accordingly.
  • SPPG have released some FAQs regarding the UTI service and contractors can access this information here.
  • All service resources and training may be found on the BSO website here.
  • Please use the following links to help promote the service on Facebook and Instagram.

If you have any queries regarding the Pharmacy First UTI service please contact your local pharmacy adviser.

CPNI colleagues are also available for any queries and advice.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.

CPNI ALERTS

DOH(NI) ALERTS

BSO ALERTS

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 Shortage 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
CPNI has received notification that The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence dated 15 December 2023 in relation to a serious shortage protocol (SSP) in place for clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension (SSP053), extending the expiry date until Friday 12 January 2024.

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.
  • Operational guidance on the implementation of SSPs in Northern Ireland can be found on the BSO website.

ACTION

Contractors should:

  • Review the letter dated 15 December 2023 and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of this update.
  • Note that the expiry date of the existing SSP for clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension (SSP053), has been extended to Friday 12 January 2024.
  • 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 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

For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Seasonal Influenza Community Pharmacy Vaccine Service
Dear Contractor
CPVS Update nine issued on 14 December relating to the vaccination service.

SUMMARY

Influenza Vaccination for High-Risk Avian Animal Workers

  • High-risk avian animal workers (those undertaking bird culling or cleaning at confirmed avian influenza outbreak premises or handling live birds which are unwell) have been added to the list of eligible cohorts for the Flu CPVS.
  • Please see the CMO letter issued 1st December 2023 linked here and the updated Green Book chapter linked here for more information.
  • The Influenza PGD has also been updated to include this change and is available on both the PCI and BSO websites.
  • VMS has been updated to include the option of ‘Bird Culler’ when selecting patient risk category.

ACTION

  • Contractors should review the CPVS update and share the information with relevant members of the pharmacy team.

Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI for any further information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
CPNI wishes to bring to your attention some recently updated information on the NICPLD website regarding the process for applying for the Independent Prescribing (IP) course in 2024.

SUMMARY

  • Contractors will be aware that planned reforms to the initial education and training of pharmacy students in Northern Ireland will mean pharmacists joining the register from 2026 onwards will be annotated as Independent Prescribers (IPs).
  • Those pharmacists already on the register or joining the register prior to 2026 may become IPs by successfully completing a recognised IP training course such as that provided by NICPLD.
  • Changes were introduced to the IP application criteria in January 2023 which mean applicants are no longer required to have been practising for at least two years post registration, or to produce evidence of clinical and therapeutic experience in their intended prescribing area.
  • To reflect these changes the course application forms were updated in 2023. 
  • It is now planned that the application process will move online for the next IP training course starting Aug/Sept 2024 (Cohort 18).
  • The application forms and online portal are currently being finalised by NICPLD and the portal will be open for submissions from 22 January 2024 to Monday 26 February 2024.
  • An application submission will not be considered complete until all elements have been received by NICPLD.
  • A recorded lecture explaining how to use the portal will be available from 17 January 2024.
  • Whilst the process is online and the application forms will look different, similar information will be requested, therefore the forms on the NICPLD website can act as a guide until the online portal is ready.
  • Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis (assuming all criteria are fulfilled).

ACTION

Contractors are advised to note:

  • The updated information provided on the NICPLD website.
  • The portal for online applications will be open from 22 January 2024 to Monday 26 February 2024. 
  • Successful applicants will commence training in August/September 2024.

Please contact a member of the CPNI team should you have any queries.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive