Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor,

The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland is celebrating its centenary year and as part of the celebrations has released a series of podcasts.  The most recent podcast features CPNI’s Head of Regulatory Affairs, Professor Mike Mawhinney.

The podcast can be accessed here: 
https://shows.acast.com/67b2fb414d9bd1092ca3dea3/episodes/68dd10ba597bc7d53fe7f51d?

Mike is no stranger to community pharmacy and reflects on his views of the sector particularly contractors and community pharmacy teams during the podcast.  The podcast is certainly worth a listen and a snapshot of the conversation can be found below.

“For me there are few areas that encapsulates the core values of pharmacy in Northern Ireland any better and epitomises our 100 years in existence here than the pharmacy contractors and the community pharmacy teams, and those colleagues in the CPNI Board of Directors who, by bringing a very unique experiential framework and a unique perspective on the professional world to the table, so ably represent them.  This contributes to encapsulating what we are in Northern Ireland as a profession.  Collectively these professionals provide for the complex health needs and support of so many patients and their carers on a daily basis – they are an extraordinary cohort of people.  I think that they teach us all the value of professional commitment, of putting needs of others first, of going the extra distance for patients by carrying out unseen and hidden acts – even to their own detriment – to make peoples’ lives better despite the most challenging of times.”

The podcast can also be accessed through Linked In where you may wish to leave a comment.  I am sure you will all acknowledge and appreciate the words Mike chose when speaking so fondly of the community pharmacy network.

Kind regards,

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Northern Ireland Cyber Security Centre (NICSC) has released two very short videos in its Cyber Awareness series, focusing on Phishing Awareness and on Password Security Best Practices.

📺 Watch the video here: Phishing Awareness | Biteable
⏱️ Duration: Approximately 2 minutes

📺 Watch the video here: Password Security Best Practices | Biteable
⏱️ Duration: Approximately 2.5 minutes

Action

Contractors are asked to:

  • Note the short videos issued by NICSC on two very topical issues; and
  • Share these with relevant members of the pharmacy team and encourage them to take a moment to watch both.

Contractors are reminded that the storage and back up of patient sensitive data and any amendments to your systems should only be carried out in line with advice from your IT or email provider, PMR system provider and in line with Data Protection legislation.

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

** FAO LIVING WELL PHARMACIES ONLY **

Dear Contractor,

SPPG have issued correspondence thanking those who have returned signed contracts for the TARGET Antibiotic Checklist Brief Intervention service.  This service will run between 6th October 2025 and 30th November 2025.  Further information can be found in the service specification.  All documentation relating to the TARGET Antibiotic Checklist Brief Intervention service are on the BSO Living Well webpage.

Checklists can be uploaded electronically from 9am on Monday 6th October 2025.  Please click here to access the checklist link.

  • As each paper form is completed, number them from 1-25.
  • As each form is uploaded to the MS form, annotate the form to confirm it has been uploaded.  This will prevent any duplicate uploads.
  • If possible, upload forms as they are completed to ensure all submissions are made in a timely manner.
  • 25 completed checklists must be submitted to ensure payment.
  • Key dates:
    • Checklists can be completed starting on Monday 6th October 2025.
    • All checklists must be completed by 30th November 2025.
    • The final date for submission of checklists is 12th January 2026.

If you encounter any difficulty in completing 25 checklists, please contact paula.mcmaster2@hscni.net in advance of the deadline of 30th November 2025.

Please ensure this information is shared with all relevant members of your pharmacy team.

Kind regards,

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

**FOR THE ATTENTION OF LIVING WELL PHARMACIES ONLY**

Dear Contractor
Correspondence has been issued by SPPG on 06 October 2025 regarding the launch of the Living Well survey for the campaign ‘Move more feel better’.

SUMMARY

  • The survey for the campaign ‘Move more feel better’ is open and can be accessed here.
  • The survey must be completed by 6pm on Monday 3rd November 2025. Please ensure to reach the final screen to confirm submission.

ACTION

  • Contractors are asked to review the SPPG correspondence issued on 06 October 2025 and share with all relevant members of the pharmacy team.

For any further information please contact CPNI offices.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence here dated 2 October 2025 relating to the extension of SSP079, SSP080, SSP081 and SSP082 (Estradot® 25mcg patches, Estradot® 50mcg patches, Estradot® 75mcg patches and Estradot® 100mcg patches).  The letter advises that these SSPs have been extended to Friday 5 December 2025.

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 2 October 2025, and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of the extension of SSP079, SSP080, SSP081 and SSP082, and that they are also aware of the specific details relating to these SSPs; and
  • 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 are reminded of information issued by BSO ‘Serious Shortage Protocols: Submission Information for Contractors’ which can be accessed here.

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

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has marked One Million patient consultations delivered through community pharmacies

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt launches the latest Living Well campaign: ‘Stay well this winter’

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt joins Campaign Champion and Community Pharmacist Joanne McMullan at the campaign launch at Portaferry Pharmacy.

The campaign runs throughout October and November 2025, and highlights the role community pharmacies play in providing advice and support on a wide range of winter illnesses that can help the public during the colder months.

The ‘Stay well this winter’ social media schedule is available here.

Contractor Resources

  • A Pharmacy First promotional clip is available here.
  • Vaccination Eligibility Criteria social media card is available here.

Research Participation

CPNI has been contacted by a researcher at the University of the West of England, Bristol, regarding a project to identify priorities for future research into the workforce of same day and urgent care services in the UK.  Community pharmacies in Northern Ireland have been recognised as a provider of this type of care, and as such the research team are keen to ensure the sector is represented.  Information on how to participate is available here: https://surgeworkforce.uk/priority-setting-partnership/

Breastfeeding Welcome Here

The PHA breastfeeding team would like to remind community pharmacies about the ‘Breastfeeding welcome here’ scheme.  The initiative aims to provide supportive environments for mothers to breastfeed when they’re out and about in public places.  Many community pharmacies have already signed up, and others who wish to join can do so by visiting the ‘For Business’ section of www.breastfedbabies.org.

‘JUST IN CASE’ BOXES: Information for Community Pharmacists

Just in Case’ boxes have been introduced to many areas of NI and are expected to be fully implemented over the next year.  These boxes, see examples above, contain the anticipatory medicines commonly used for end of life care such as morphine sulfate and midazolam injections.  The boxes are placed in the patients homes ‘just in case’ they are needed, to ensure prompt symptom control.  Community pharmacy staff may hear healthcare professionals or carers refer to the Just in Case box, but the medicines are ordered on a HS21 by the normal routes and then the district nurse will supply the Just in Case box the next time they are in the patients home.  If the Just in Case box is no longer needed e.g. after the patient’s death, the family may return any unused medication to their community pharmacy as normal.  The actual Just in Case box itself will be removed from the home by the district nurse.  If counselling carers on any injectable medication for end of life care, including Just in Case boxes, please advise that these are to be used solely by healthcare professionals and are not to be administered by family.

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 Pricing/Supply 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