Archives: Contractor Email

**FAO LIVING WELL PHARMACIES ONLY**
Dear Contractor

SPPG have released an important update regarding the Living Well service. 

SUMMARY

  • Correspondencefrom SPPG for Living Well Pharmacies has been received 16th November 2023 and has been added to the BSO website.
  • The campaign ‘keep antibiotics working’ ends 30th November and the survey will open 1st December 2023.
  • A new campaign ‘Take 5 steps to wellbeing’ is due to start 1st December 2023
  • The Living Well summary report for the campaign “Home accident prevention” is now available at Campaign Summary Reports – Business Services Organisation (BSO) Website (hscni.net)

ACTION

  • Contractors who provide the Living Well Service should ensure that they read and review the correspondence issued 16th November 2023
  • The campaign ‘keep antibiotics working’ ends 30th November and the survey will open 1st December 2023
  • A new campaign ‘Take 5 steps to wellbeing’ is due to start 1st December 2023
  • If you have not received your ‘Take 5 steps to wellbeing’ resource pack by 29th November 2023, please email reception.pha@hscni.net immediately and ensure your email subject heading is titled “LIVING WELL PHARMACY CAMPAIGN”. Failure to report by 8th December 2023 will result in no replacement resources being provided.
  • Please contact CPNI for any assistance required.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Colleague

I write to advise that CPNI considers the current DoH(NI)/SPPG community pharmacy funding arrangements to be neither fair nor reasonable and that an urgent meeting has been sought with the DoH(NI) Permanent Secretary.

The Category-M Drug Tariff reductions that have been applied to the Oct’23 Northern Ireland Drug Tariff, in addition to the July’23 Category-M Drug Tariff reductions and the reduced opening funding allocation for 2023/24 (relative to 2022/23), coupled with the repayment of the Covid Advance when set against rising costs in the sector mean that the community pharmacy funding deficit in Northern Ireland has never been greater than at present.

Ahead of last Thursday’s CPNI Board meeting BSO confirmed the financial impact that the overall Category-M reductions from Oct’23 onwards would have on Northern Ireland contractors, and this precipitated an urgent meeting request being sent to the Permanent Secretary. CPNI also put forward a proposal to the Permanent Secretary that would stabilise the sector and help contractors to meet wholesaler, business and banking obligations at the end of this month and going forward.

Because of mounting concerns through-out 2023/24 CPNI had previously written to, and advised SPPG that significant funding difficulties are endemic in the sector and that funding investment is required, but these have not been acted upon by SPPG. Accordingly, and considering the impact that the Oct’23 Category-M reductions will have on you going forward, this matter was escalated immediately and directly to the Permanent Secretary.

Confirmation has been received today that a meeting will take place next Tuesday with the Permanent Secretary.

A further update will be provided to you at the earliest opportunity.

Yours sincerely

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing
vaccination services and/or needle exchange services
Dear Contractor

SUMMARY

  • CPNI and SPPG are in the process of identifying the numbers of staff who require Hepatitis B vaccination due to participation in vaccination and/or needle exchange services.
  • CPNI are requesting Contractors to please fill in the survey to collate the numbers of staff that require Hepatitis B vaccination.
  • Multiple Pharmacy Groups may choose to complete the survey by filling in the attached Excel file and emailing the response back to contractorupdate@communitypharmacyni.co.uk.
  • To avoid duplication for those pharmacists that provide services to both vaccinations and needle exchange, and who require Hepatitis B vaccination, please only submit numbers on the vaccination services question.

ACTION

  • Contractors are requested to fill in the survey attached
  • Multiple Pharmacy Groups may choose to fill in the attached excel file and emailing responses to: 

          contractorupdate@communitypharmacyni.co.uk

  • Please can returns be submitted by Friday 17th November 2023.

        Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.

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

Northern Ireland Public Health Research Network

CPNI have been made aware of an upcoming series of free seminars based on NI public health research with a focus on pharmacy.  One of the presentations will include data from the community pharmacy Living Well service.  Further information including how to register to view the seminars is available the flyer attached.

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
For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing vaccination services and/or needle exchange services

Dear Contractor

  • CPNI and SPPG are in the process of identifying the numbers of staff who require Hepatitis B vaccination due to participation in vaccination and/or needle exchange services.
  • CPNI are requesting Contractors to please fill in the survey to collate the numbers of staff that require Hepatitis B vaccination.
  • Multiple Pharmacy Groups may choose to complete the survey by filling in the attached Excel file and emailing the response back to contractorupdate@communitypharmacyni.co.uk.
  • To avoid duplication for those pharmacists that provide services to both vaccinations and needle exchange, and who require Hepatitis B vaccination, please only submit numbers on the vaccination services question.
  • CPNI appreciates Contractors taking the time to fill out this survey and requests returns to be submitted by Friday 17th November 2023.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
Correspondence was issued by SPPG on 09 November 2023 to advise pharmacy contractors of the recommencement of Community Pharmacy Assurance Framework (CPAF) visits.  The correspondence can be viewed here.

SUMMARY

  • CPAF consists of an annual declaration completed by each community pharmacy contractor, and a visit undertaken by SPPG staff.
  • The overall aim and purpose is to monitor compliance with the Terms of Service, service specifications, related professional standards and best practice guidance.
  • Information on the Community Pharmacy Assurance Framework, including the visit protocol and guidance is available on the BSO website here.
  • The SPPG letter advises that visits will be recommencing, and that pharmacies which have never received a visit as part of CPAF, will be prioritised.
  • If your pharmacy is selected for a visit you will be contacted by your local office to make the necessary arrangements.

ACTIONS

  • Contractors should note the contents of the SPPG letter and share the information with relevant members of the pharmacy team.

Should contractors have any queries regarding CPAF they may wish to contact their local SPPG pharmacy adviser, or alternatively they may contact a member of the CPNI team.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive