SPPG issued correspondence on behalf of NICPLD on 9 February 2026 inviting feedback on the FTY 2026/2027 Selection and Admission process.
SUMMARY
NICPLD is seeking the views of all pharmacy organisations regarding the FTY Selection and Admission process used to select students for the 200 FTY training places available in NI.
Students who were successfully selected by the new process have now been matched with their FTY training places in hospital and community pharmacy settings, and will commence training in August 2026.
NICPLD would welcome feedback from pharmacy organisations regardless of whether they participated in the 2026/2027 process, and regardless of whether they were allocated a 2026/2027 Trainee pharmacist.
Feedback will be utilised to implement any necessary changes or improvements for the upcoming FTY 2027/2028 Selection and Admission process.
The feedback survey is available here and will remain open until 6 March 2026.
ACTION
Contractors may wish to note the information in the SPPG/NICPLD correspondence and share any relevant feedback by completing the survey before the closing date on 6 March 2026.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
REMINDER: LIVING WELL CAMPAIGN SURVEY
** FAO: ALL LIVING WELL PHARMACIES INCLUDING PARTICIPANTS IN TARGET BRIEF INTERVENTION SERVICE **
Dear Contractor
Correspondence has been issued by SPPG on 16 February 2026 to those pharmacies yet to submit an evaluation survey for the Living Well campaign ‘How are you feeling‘. The survey will close at 6pm on 2 March 2026.
SUMMARY
All pharmacies contracted to provide the Living Well service must complete an evaluation survey after each campaign, unless otherwise informed.
SPPG reserves the right to recoup payment for a campaign if the evaluation survey is not submitted.
The survey for the campaign ‘How are you feeling’ is open and can be accessed here.
The survey must be completed by 6pm Monday 2nd March 2026. Please ensure to reach the final screen to confirm submission.
ACTION
Contractors who have yet to complete the Living Well survey for the campaign ‘How are you feeling’ are asked to read the correspondence, share with relevant team members, and ensure completion prior to 6pm on 2 March 2026.
For any further information please contact CPNI offices or speak to your local SPPG office.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The first update of concessionary prices were granted today for February 2026:
The Recognition of Excellence (RoE) Awards Return, Championing the Work of Community Pharmacy
Entries for this year’s Recognition of Excellence Awards programme are now open and pharmacy teams are encouraged to nominate themselves or colleagues before the closing date 6 April 2026 here.
Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF Gerard Greene Chief Executive
Dear Colleague,
An urgent opportunity has arisen for CPNI representatives to brief the NI Assembly Committeefor Health on Thursday 26th February 2026. This is an important meeting at which CPNI representatives will update MLAs on Medicines Supply and Community Pharmacy Pressures.
CPNI has been warning of heightened risks to medicines supply and patient access due to ongoing UK-wide shortages and severe financial pressure on the community pharmacy sector in Northern Ireland, which is making the situation more acute here.
What We Are Asking Contractors to Do?
This meeting provides a public platform at which CPNI can brief the Health Committee and to strengthen this engagement, we are inviting contractors to get in touch with their local Health Committee MLAs and share their own experiences. Given the limited timeframe, we are asking contractors to focus on the following specific actions:
1. Engage with Your Local Health Committee MLA
Please contact your local MLA by phone, email, or in-person over the next two weeks (contact details are listed below). Fridays are constituency days and MLAs are often in their offices to take calls or meet with local constituents.
Key points to raise:
Pharmacies are a critical front-line service for patients, dispensing millions of prescriptions annually. However current funding and supply chain pressures mean the sector’s ability to maintain reliable medicines access is increasingly under strain.
Where applicable, include references to any difficulties you have experienced in paying medicine wholesalers in recent months, if you anticipate this getting worse and any additional steps you have had to take to pay medicine bills.
With escalating medicines shortages, outline that you have growing concerns that patient care is being potentially compromised through delays, leading to increased clinical risk.
To illustrate the situation, provide examples of key medicine shortages you are increasingly dealing with and the conditions they treat.
Outline the significant time spent sourcing stock that is no longer readily available.
2. Patient Power
The patient voice is powerful and if you have any patients who would like to share their experiences of medicines shortages and how this has affected them, please do encourage them to also contact their local Health Committee representative.
3. Social Media
Take a screenshot of the list of shortages, including the lines you can’t secure at Drug Tariff price and share this on social media, tagging your local MLAs.
You could add in your own words that the Department of Health aren’t funding you properly to buy this/these medicines.
Why This Matters Now?
Without urgent stabilisation of the community pharmacy sector, medicines supply risks will increasingly affect patients, primary care services and the wider health system in Northern Ireland.
It is important that the Health Committee members are fully briefed and this can only happen if they hear directly from contractors ‘on the ground’ in their local constituencies. This will significantly strengthen the case being presented and ensure that the risks to patient care are fully understood, in addition to supporting CPNI’s call for urgent departmental engagement to address the unsustainable funding model to protect and maintain safe, sustainable pharmacy services.
If there isn’t an MLA from your area represented on the Health Committee, please share your experiences with the Committee Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson.
This is a critical moment for community pharmacy and your engagement, will make a meaningful difference.
Thank you for your continued professionalism and commitment to patient care and please do get in touch with CPNI, if you need further information.
Yours sincerely,
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor,
SPPG issued correspondence dated 6th February regarding the recall of some Danone Infant Formula products. This is an addendum to HSS(MD) 03/2026 – Food Standards Agency (FSA) Alert: Nestlé recalls several SMA Infant Formula and Follow-On Formula which was issued by CPNI on Thursday 8th January 2026.
Summary
The addendum advises Danone have recalled several Aptamil and Cow & Gate First Infant Milk and Follow on Milk formula products because of the possible presence of cereulide (toxin).
Information from the Foods Standards Agency regarding the above Infant Formula Recall can be accessed here.
This recall is an extension to the Aptamil First Infant Formula product recall issued on 23rd January 2026.
Contractors should note the SPPG correspondence regarding the recall of certain Danone infant formula products and ensure this information is shared promptly with relevant members of the pharmacy team.
Any affected stock should be identified and managed in line with the guidance provided.
WhatsApp Business Terms of Service can be found here and privacy policy hereUCA-NI Privacy Policy We take your privacy seriously and do not share or sell any personal details with third parties for commercial purposes. If you have any questions, please contact the CPNI office. You can withdraw your consent to be contacted at any time by calling 028 9069 0444 or by emailing info@communitypharmacyni.co.uk. CPNI Data Protection Policy and Data Retention policy can be found Click Here
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