Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor
Correspondence has been issued by SPPG 27th June 2024 regarding LFD distribution.

SUMMARY

  • Due to a recent significant increase in orders for LFDs, pharmacies that have placed orders this week will receive a quantity of 15 boxes, as opposed to the normal 30.
  • PHA are currently procuring additional stock.

ACTION

  • Please review the correspondence issued by SPPG 27th June 2024 regarding the ordering of LFDs and share with all relevant team members.
  • Due to a recent rise in the ordering of LFDs, pharmacies who have placed an order this week will receive 15 boxes, as opposed to 30.
  • SPPG have requested pharmacies to check stock before ordering to avoid stockpiling.

If you have any queries in relation to this email, please contact your local Primary Care Office.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
SPPG have issued an important update on 27th June 2024 to remind contractors that the Spring COVID-19 CPVS programme is to finish on 30th June 2024.

SUMMARY

  • The Spring COVID-19 vaccination programme is finishing on 30th June 2024.
  • Pharmacies should dispose of any residual Spikevax® XBB.1.5 COVID-19 stock after 30th June 2024 into waste bins.
  • Pharmacies that have completed the Spring COVID-19 vaccinations in Care Homes must complete the online declaration to receive the additional Care Home payment by 30th June 2024.

ACTION

  • Contractors are asked to read the correspondence issued by SPPG 27th June 2024 regarding the Spring COVID-19 vaccination programme and share with all relevant team members.
  • Any residual Spikevax® XBB.1.5 COVID-19 stock should be disposed of in waste bins after 30th June 2024.
  • The online declaration for completion of Spring COVID-19 vaccinations in Care Homes should be completed by 30th June 2024 to receive the additional payment.

If you have any queries relating to this correspondence please contact Gráinne McMahon (Grainne.McMahon4@hscni.net) or Greg Miller (Greg.Miller@hscni.net).

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Colleague
The first update of concessionary prices were granted today for June 2024:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Anastrozole 1mg tablets28£1.25
Aripiprazole 15mg tablets28£4.25
Aripiprazole 5mg tablets28£4.45
Azithromycin 250mg capsules6£4.50
Baclofen 10mg tablets84£2.62
Bimatoprost 300micrograms/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops3£8.14
Bumetanide 1mg tablets28£2.26
Calcipotriol 0.005% / Betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% ointment30£10.98
Cefalexin 250mg capsules28£2.07
Cefalexin 500mg capsules21£2.90
Chloramphenicol 0.5% eye drops10£5.26
Cinacalcet 30mg tablets28£7.44
Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension70£5.10
Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension70£6.95
Co-amoxiclav 250mg/125mg tablets21£3.04
Co-amoxiclav 500mg/125mg tablets21£3.72
Co-codamol 15mg/500mg tablets100£3.16
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg capsules100£5.14
Colecalciferol 1,000unit capsules30£6.25
Digoxin 125microgram tablets28£2.57
Digoxin 250microgram tablets28£2.57
Digoxin 62.5microgram tablets28£2.46
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops5£5.63
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops 0.2ml unit dose preservative free60£22.46
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml eye drops5£3.43
Duloxetine 20mg gastro-resistant capsules28£8.29
Duloxetine 40mg gastro-resistant capsules56£8.93
Duloxetine 60mg gastro-resistant capsules28£2.65
Enalapril 10mg tablets28£0.79
Escitalopram 10mg tablets28£1.25
Escitalopram 20mg tablets28£1.55
Escitalopram 5mg tablets28£3.38
Esomeprazole 40mg gastro-resistant capsules28£3.41
Estradiol 10microgram pessaries24£10.75
Etoricoxib 30mg tablets28£4.32
Etoricoxib 60mg tablets28£9.10
Etoricoxib 90mg tablets28£8.50
Ezetimibe 10mg tablets28£6.00
Fenofibrate micronised 160mg tablets28£3.53
Haloperidol 1.5mg tablets28£3.84
Haloperidol 5mg tablets28£3.31
Irbesartan 300mg tablets28£1.53
Isotretinoin 20mg capsules30£11.03
Itraconazole 100mg capsules15£8.56
Ketoconazole 2% shampoo120£18.43
Lactulose 3.1-3.7g/5ml oral solution500£3.95
Lamotrigine 200mg tablets56£4.62
Latanoprost 50micrograms/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops2.5£5.50
Lofepramine 70mg tablets56£21.27
Mebeverine 200mg modified-release capsules60£6.64
Memantine 10mg tablets28£1.25
Memantine 10mg/ml oral solution sugar free50£31.90
Memantine 20mg tablets28£1.45
Metformin 1g modified-release tablets56£3.01
Metformin 500mg modified-release tablets56£1.74
Methylphenidate 10mg tablets30£4.05
Metoclopramide 10mg tablets28£0.91
Mometasone 0.1% ointment30£3.57
Mometasone 50micrograms/dose nasal spray140£9.20
Montelukast 10mg tablets28£1.75
Morphine sulfate 10mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules10£6.50
Nebivolol 2.5mg tablets28£10.87
Nebivolol 5mg tablets28£4.52
Nicorandil 10mg tablets60£7.31
Nicorandil 20mg tablets60£9.30
Nortriptyline 10mg tablets100£4.49
Olanzapine 10mg tablets28£7.16
Olanzapine 15mg tablets28£3.99
Olanzapine 20mg tablets28£5.69
Olanzapine 5mg tablets28£4.13
Potassium aminobenzoate 3g oral powder sachets40£68.77
Pregabalin 100mg capsules84£2.58
Pregabalin 150mg capsules56£2.53
Pregabalin 200mg capsules84£4.31
Pregabalin 300mg capsules56£2.84
Pregabalin 50mg capsules84£20.94
Pregabalin 75mg capsules56£1.74
Primidone 250mg tablets100£88.02
Prochlorperazine 5mg tablets28£1.64
Pyridostigmine bromide 60mg tablets200£17.36
Quetiapine 100mg tablets60£16.04
Quetiapine 150mg tablets60£13.94
Quetiapine 200mg tablets60£19.21
Quetiapine 25mg tablets60£3.97
Quetiapine 300mg tablets60£11.99
Quinine sulfate 200mg tablets28£7.36
Quinine sulfate 300mg tablets28£3.02
Rasagiline 1mg tablets28£29.99
Rizatriptan 10mg tablets3£7.35
Ropinirole 1mg tablets84£33.47
Ropinirole 500microgram tablets28£15.00
Salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml nebuliser liquid unit dose vials20£18.50
Salbutamol 5mg/2.5ml nebuliser liquid unit dose vials20£20.88
Simvastatin 20mg tablets28£0.84
Sodium chloride 0.9% nebuliser liquid 2.5ml unit dose ampoules20£9.50
Temazepam 10mg tablets28£24.32
Terbinafine 250mg tablets14£11.40
Trospium chloride 20mg tablets60£14.98
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg tablets6£16.66
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg tablets12£33.31
Zonisamide 100mg capsules56£33.16
Zonisamide 50mg capsules56£23.00

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

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Application Deadline Extended
Public Appointment Competition for 6 x Council Members to the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI)

Dear Contractor

As you may be aware, the Department of Health NI (DoH) is seeking to appoint 6 Council Members (3 x Lay & 3 x Registrant) to the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI).  Applications from women are especially welcome as they are currently under-represented on the PSNI Council.  The deadline for receipt of applications has been extended to 12.00pm (UK time) on Friday 28 June 2024.

Further information is available on the DoH website here.

Registrant members of the PSNI council play an important and impactful role.  Those appointed to the council have an opportunity and responsibility to input and shape the considerations of the pharmacy regulator, and to assist with the delivery of regulatory governance.

Should you have any questions or require further information, you may wish to email: public.appointments@health-ni.gov.uk, or alternatively contact a member of the CPNI team.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence dated 21 June 2024 extending serious shortage protocols SSP053 and SSP054 for clarithromycin 125mg/5ml and 250mg/5ml oral suspensions.

Both SSPs are due to expire on Friday 19 July 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:

  • Note that the serious shortage protocols SSP053 and SSP054 for clarithromycin 125mg/5ml and 250mg/5ml oral suspensions have been extended.
  • Note that the letter giving the key points, and the full SSPs are available on the Business Services Organisation dedicated page on its website.
  • Note the 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.
  • Ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of this update.

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

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