Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor
The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland has launched a consultation on the draft Code of Conduct, Ethics and Performance for pharmacists in Northern Ireland and the relevant documents can be accessed via this link.

Background

The Pharmacy (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 imposes an obligation on the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland to “set standards relating to the conduct, ethics and performance expected of registered persons”.

The Pharmaceutical Society NI Code (Professional standards of conduct, ethics, and performance for pharmacists in Northern Ireland) (‘the Code’) is used to guide and support pharmacists in their scope of practice, professional development and decision making.  It underpins all other professional standards and guidance documents that the Society issues.  The Code also informs the public and patients on the professional conduct and behaviours they can expect from their pharmacist.

The Code is regarded as governing the conduct of all pharmacists both within and outside the practice of pharmacy.  Breaches of the Code could form the basis of a complaint of misconduct and require an appearance before the Statutory Committee of the Pharmaceutical Society NI which can determine to apply an appropriate sanction.

Draft Code

The Society indicates that the new draft Code requires pharmacists to give an affirmation to provide safe, effective, and compassionate care by abiding by seven Standards.  Each of the seven Standards is linked to behaviours which pharmacists must demonstrate in order to meet these Standards.

The Society indicates that much of the content of the Code is unchanged as the fundamental principles of patient care remains as relevant today as in the past.  However, the emphasis and language used in the Code has changed and the Society has indicated that it has tried to make the Code more accessible and relevant to both the profession and the public and to allow for broad standards which can be applied in all situations now and in the future life of the Code.

CPNI was included in the Advisory Group which assisted in the review of the Code and we will be studying the draft documents and submitting a response.

The consultation asks the following questions:

  • Are the principles in the draft Code applicable across all areas of pharmacy practice?
  • Does the draft Code adequately outline the behaviours and conduct expected from a health professional working as a pharmacist?
  • Is there anything which is not adequately considered or covered in the draft Code?
  • Is there anything unnecessary or which should be removed from the draft Code?
  • Is there any supplementary guidance or information you would require to help your understanding of the information contained in the Code?
  • Do you have suggestions how we can make the Code better known and understood by pharmacy trainees, pharmacists, patients and the public?
  • Do any aspects of the draft Code have equality implications for groups or individuals based on one or more of the following categories: age, gender, disability, pregnancy and maternity, race/ethnicity, religion or belief, political opinion, people with dependants, sexual orientation, or marital status?

Action

Contractors are asked to note:

  1. The above consultation; and
  2. That you may respond directly to the Society via the link above or send comments to Ennis or myself for inclusion in the CPNI response.  The closing date is 18 December 2023, so comments should reach us by 11 December 2023.

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Contractor,
This is a final reminder that the online evaluation survey for the Living Well campaign ‘Care in the Sun’ will close in the coming days and can be accessed by clicking here.

SUMMARY

  • The ‘Care in the Sun’ survey can be accessed here
  • Due to updates to the BSO website, links to the campaign surveys in previous correspondence may no longer be valid. 
  • Living Well information on current and recent campaigns can be accessed here

ACTION

Contractors who provide the Living Well Service should ensure that their pharmacy/pharmacies have completed the ‘Care in the Sun’ survey

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Autumn 2023 COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza Community Pharmacy Vaccine Service (CPVS)
Dear Contractor
SPPG have issued the following communication to all providers of the community pharmacy vaccine service. Please ensure this is shared with relevant members of your pharmacy team.
The PHA have issued a letter advising that all providers should now dispose of all Comirnaty BA.4-5 (Pfizer) vaccine.  Please perform a final check of this quarantined stock to ensure only BA.4-5 vaccines are disposed of.  The stock should be treated as expired stock and as per the CPVS clinical waste guidance document, placed into a purple lidded sharps bin for incineration.

For full details see PHA letter available here.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Autumn 2023 COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza Community Pharmacy Vaccine Service (CPVS)

Dear Contractor

The following communication was issued today by SPPG to those pharmacies involved in the community pharmacy vaccination service.  Please ensure this information is shared with relevant members of your pharmacy team.

Declaration of Completion of Care Home Vaccinations by 31St October 2023: Claim for additional £200 payment

As per the COVID-CPVS service specification community pharmacies are reimbursed an additional £200 fee where vaccination of residents of a Care Home has been fully completed by 31st October 2023.

To claim this payment contractors should complete the on-line declaration (link below) by 5pm on Friday 3rd November.

https://consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk/hsc/additional-fee-for-completion-of-care-home-vacs

Each of the care home(s) completed by 31st October should be selected from the drop-down list.  Contractors are asked make a single return selecting multiple care homes where required.

If you have any queries relating to this declaration please contact Tom Coyle (Tom.Coyle@hscni.net).
 

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

  • Weekly Drug Alerts are available here.
  • Weekly Shortages Information is available here.
  • Serious Shortage Protocols are available here.
— R E M I N D E R —

Please ensure that you and relevant members of your pharmacy team are checking your HSC secure email on a regular basis as this is the primary method of communication that SPPG use to share important updates with the network. The 40 pharmacies that have been selected for the Pharmacy First Sore Throat “Test and Treat” Pilot Service will now have been notified via secure email.

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

Or report medicine shortages, pricing and staffing issues via the 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

COMMUNITY PHARMACY VACCINE SERVICE UPDATE

For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Autumn 2023 COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza Community Pharmacy Vaccine Service (CPVS): Update Six (20th October)

Dear Contractor

Please see the update below that has been issued today relating to the vaccination service.

1. BA.4-5 vaccines

  • ONLY use Comirnaty XBB.1.5 for COVID-19 CPVS vaccinations, the BA.4-5 is not authorised for further use in Autumn 2023.
  • PHA will shortly provide advice to providers on the next steps for any Comirnaty BA.4-5 (Pfizer) vaccine, still quarantined in pharmacy fridges.

2. Pharmacy Vaccination Delivery

  • Community pharmacies have responded quickly and efficiently in the autumn programme to provide vaccinations for eligible patients after the programme was commenced three weeks earlier than planned.
  • There have been circa 44,000 vaccinations administered by community pharmacy since the start of the autumn campaign.
    • 23k Flu
    • 21k COVID-19

3. REMINDER: Deadline for early vaccination payments is approaching – 31st October 2023

  • PHA are aiming to vaccinate as many eligible patients as possible by 31st  October 2023.
  • Please continue to plan that any outstanding care homes have a vaccination date established on or before 31st October 2023.
  • Supplementary payments for non-care home eligible patients [walk ins] also remain in place until 31st October 2023.
  • The vaccination programme for COVID-19 will continue until early December with standard payments payable for vaccinations administered after the 31st October 2023.

4. VMS entries:

  • Vaccinations should be recorded on VMS within 24 hours.
  • Payments are based on VMS entry for the dates of administration.
  • Are clinical records and should be contemporaneous.
  • Provide assurance to PHA and other agencies on the success of the vaccination programme.
  • Can be edited in the pharmacy to correct any errors.

If you have any queries about the Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service (CPVS) please contact Greg Miller (greg.miller@hscni.net) or Grainne McMahon (Grainne.McMahon4@hscni.net).

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive