Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague
The second update of concessionary prices were granted today for October 2023:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Aciclovir 800mg tablets35£3.60
Atorvastatin 80mg tablets28£5.22
Benzoyl peroxide 5% / Clindamycin 1% gel30£11.99
Bimatoprost 100micrograms/ml eye drops3£4.18
Brinzolamide 10mg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops5£10.01
Calcipotriol 0.005% / Betamethasone dipropionate
0.05% ointment		30£9.52
Carvedilol 6.25mg tablets28£1.29
Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension70£6.22
Clotrimazole 1% cream20£1.93
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg capsules100£4.71
Codeine 30mg tablets28£1.08
Codeine 30mg tablets100£3.86
Docusate 50mg/5ml oral solution sugar free300£18.32
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops5£4.15
Estradiol 10microgram pessaries24£9.18
Ezetimibe 10mg tablets28£1.65
Hydrocortisone 1% cream15£2.52
Hydroxocobalamin 1mg/1ml solution for injection
ampoules		5£11.33
Lansoprazole 15mg orodispersible tablets28£2.95
Latanoprost 50micrograms/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye
drops		2.5£3.67
Ondansetron 4mg tablets10£7.09
Prochlorperazine 3mg buccal tablets50£7.68
Prochlorperazine 5mg tablets28£1.80
Promethazine hydrochloride 10mg tablets56£18.10
Ropinirole 500microgram tablets28£11.89
Telmisartan 20mg tablets28£3.75
Terbinafine 1% cream30£6.59
Terbinafine 1% cream15£2.98
Timolol 0.25% eye drops5£2.04
Warfarin 5mg tablets28£1.54
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg tablets6£16.45
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg tablets12£32.90
Zopiclone 3.75mg tablets28£1.59
Zopiclone 7.5mg tablets28£1.50

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 Colleague
The first update of concessionary prices were granted today for October 2023:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Amisulpride 100mg tablets60£18.00
Atorvastatin 10mg tablets28£1.30
Atorvastatin 20mg tablets28£1.39
Atorvastatin 40mg tablets28£2.25
Carbocisteine 250mg/5ml oral solution300£7.42
Chloramphenicol 1% eye ointment4£4.89
Cinacalcet 30mg tablets28£7.25
Co-amoxiclav 500mg/125mg tablets21£4.39
Doxycycline 100mg capsules8£1.05
Eplerenone 25mg tablets28£11.12
Eplerenone 50mg tablets28£5.58
Etoricoxib 60mg tablets28£2.20
Flecainide 100mg tablets60£3.04
Isotretinoin 20mg capsules30£11.27
Levetiracetam 100mg/ml oral solution sugar free300£10.41
Metoprolol 50mg tablets28£2.20
Mometasone 0.1% ointment30£4.11
Oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free250£9.60
Pantoprazole 20mg gastro-resistant tablets28£2.89
Quinine sulfate 200mg tablets28£7.40
Rasagiline 1mg tablets28£15.74
Risperidone 1mg/ml oral solution sugar free100£3.15
Risperidone 500microgram tablets20£3.05
Ropinirole 250microgram tablets12£3.94
Rosuvastatin 10mg tablets28£0.95
Rosuvastatin 20mg tablets28£3.09
Rosuvastatin 40mg tablets28£1.65
Topiramate 100mg tablets60£10.63
Warfarin 1mg tablets28£0.92
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg orodispersible tablets sugar free6£20.24

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 new 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 issued correspondence (here) dated 13 October 2023 extending the expiry date of SSP057 Estradot® (estradiol hemihydrate) 100micrograms/24 hour patch, until 3 November 2023.

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

ACTION

Contractors should:

  • Review the letter (here) dated 13 October 2023 and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of the specific details relating to this SSP;
  • 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

This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.

CPNI ALERTS

DOH(NI) ALERTS

BSO ALERTS

MHRA UPDATE

Riluzole 50mg Tablets

CPNI were made aware that community pharmacies were having difficulty sourcing riluzole 50mg tablets.

The Department of Health (NI) has advised that if any patients are currently experiencing difficulties obtaining riluzole 50mg tablets from community pharmacies, they are recommended to contact the Specialist Medicines Department at the Royal Victoria Hospital on 028 9615 0736 (8.30am to 4.30pm).  Patients will be aware of this process from before.

It is anticipated that some stock will be with local wholesalers soon.

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
Dear Contractor
SPPG today shared CPVS Update 4.

SUMMARY

From today (Monday 9 October) ONLY use Comirnaty XBB.1.5 for COVID-19 CPVS vaccinations.

ACTION

  • Stop the administration of Comirnaty BA.4-5 vaccines.
  • Please ensure you have ordered the required stock of Comirnaty XBB.1.5 vaccines.
  • Vaccinations from today (9 October) must be with the Comirnaty XBB.1.5 vaccine.
  • Quarantine any remaining stock of the Comirnaty BA.4-5 vaccine until the PHA issues further guidance for this stock.
  • Ensure this information is shared with relevant members of your pharmacy team.

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
Dear Contractor
Correspondence was issued on Thursday 5 October 2023 from the Medicines Regulatory Group regarding prescription collection procedures.

SUMMARY:

The MRG letter can be accessed here.

ACTION:

Contractors should note the contents of the MRG letter and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team.

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

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive