Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague
The first update of concessionary prices were granted today for September 2023:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Acamprosate 333mg gastro-resistant tablets168£23.67
Aciclovir 800mg tablets35£3.81
Amiloride 5mg tablets28£14.24
Amisulpride 100mg tablets60£18.11
Amisulpride 200mg tablets60£32.15
Atorvastatin 10mg tablets28£1.39
Atorvastatin 20mg tablets28£1.95
Atorvastatin 40mg tablets28£2.25
Benzoyl peroxide 5% / Clindamycin 1% gel30£11.95
Benzoyl peroxide 5% / Clindamycin 1% gel60£22.21
Betahistine 16mg tablets84£8.85
Betahistine 8mg tablets84£4.09
Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream30£2.28
Bicalutamide 150mg tablets28£3.63
Bimatoprost 100micrograms/ml eye drops3£3.97
Bisacodyl 5mg gastro-resistant tablets60£4.59
Brinzolamide 10mg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops5£9.20
Brinzolamide 10mg/ml eye drops5£4.99
Bumetanide 1mg tablets28£2.80
Buprenorphine 8mg sublingual tablets sugar free7£4.21
Carbocisteine 250mg/5ml oral solution300£7.49
Carvedilol 6.25mg tablets28£1.30
Chloramphenicol 1% eye ointment4£4.99
Cinacalcet 30mg tablets28£7.25
Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension70£4.10
Clarithromycin 250mg tablets14£3.25
Clotrimazole 1% cream20£1.94
Clotrimazole 1% cream50£3.99
Clotrimazole 500mg pessaries1£9.45
Co-amoxiclav 500mg/125mg tablets21£4.50
Co-careldopa 25mg/100mg tablets100£6.62
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg capsules100£3.96
Cyclizine 50mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules5£8.25
Docusate 50mg/5ml oral solution sugar free300£17.77
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops 0.2ml unit dose preservative free60£19.56
Doxycycline 100mg capsules8£0.90
Enalapril 2.5mg tablets28£8.48
Eplerenone 25mg tablets28£11.15
Eplerenone 50mg tablets28£5.89
Etoricoxib 60mg tablets28£2.50
Flecainide 100mg tablets60£3.47
Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free100£3.62
Glycopyrronium bromide 200micrograms/1ml solution for injection ampoules10£9.93
Hydrocortisone 1% cream15£1.98
Hydrocortisone 1% cream30£3.45
Hydroxychloroquine 200mg tablets60£3.45
Isotretinoin 20mg capsules30£11.49
Ivabradine 2.5mg tablets56£44.19
Lamotrigine 100mg tablets56£2.15
Lamotrigine 50mg tablets56£1.94
Latanoprost 50micrograms/ml eye drops2.5£1.88
Levetiracetam 100mg/ml oral solution sugar free300£10.36
Lofepramine 70mg tablets56£14.50
Mercaptopurine 50mg tablets25£9.42
Methylphenidate 10mg tablets30£3.08
Metoprolol 50mg tablets28£2.25
Mometasone 0.1% cream30£4.14
Mometasone 0.1% ointment30£4.20
Montelukast 10mg tablets28£1.44
Moxonidine 200microgram tablets28£5.29
Mycophenolate mofetil 500mg tablets50£7.15
Orlistat 120mg capsules84£24.19
Oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free250£9.60
Pantoprazole 20mg gastro-resistant tablets28£3.85
Perindopril erbumine 4mg tablets30£1.50
Perindopril erbumine 8mg tablets30£1.87
Pizotifen 1.5mg tablets28£1.81
Pramipexole 180microgram tablets30£9.00
Pregabalin 225mg capsules56£2.57
Pregabalin 300mg capsules56£3.12
Pregabalin 75mg capsules56£2.10
Prochlorperazine 3mg buccal tablets50£8.09
Prochlorperazine 5mg tablets28£1.96
Quetiapine 25mg tablets60£1.48
Quinine sulfate 200mg tablets28£8.45
Risperidone 1mg/ml oral solution sugar free100£3.13
Risperidone 500microgram tablets20£3.19
Ropinirole 250microgram tablets12£6.15
Rosuvastatin 10mg tablets28£1.15
Rosuvastatin 20mg tablets28£3.74
Rosuvastatin 5mg tablets28£1.00
Sodium chloride 0.9% nebuliser liquid 2.5ml unit dose ampoules20£9.50
Spironolactone 100mg tablets28£4.56
Spironolactone 25mg tablets28£1.84
Spironolactone 50mg tablets28£3.98
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment60£39.41
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment30£21.78
Tamsulosin 400microgram modified-release capsules30£1.44
Terbinafine 1% cream15£3.07
Terbinafine 1% cream30£6.15
Warfarin 5mg tablets28£1.34
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg orodispersible tablets sugar free6£20.69
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg tablets6£16.50
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg tablets12£33.00
Zopiclone 3.75mg tablets28£1.78
Zopiclone 7.5mg tablets28£1.53

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

You will be aware that the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland has launched two consultations relating to Knowledge of English (one relating to the regulations and one to the associated guidance).

https://www.psni.org.uk/publications/consultations/

CPNI will be submitting a response to these consultations and any comments should be forwarded to Ennis or myself by 29 September 2023.  Alternatively, contractors can respond directly using the link above.

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Contractor

You may be aware that DOH has launched a UK-wide consultation seeking views on the proposal to enable registered pharmacy technicians to supply and administer medicines under a patient group direction (PGD).

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposal-for-the-use-of-patient-group-directions-by-pharmacy-technicians

CPNI will be submitting a response to this consultation, and comments from contractors are welcomed.  The consultation closes on 29 September 2023 and comments should be submitted to Ennis or myself by 22 September 2023. Alternatively, contractors can respond directly using the link above.

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

NIECR Rollout

Community pharmacies have been made aware of the forthcoming rollout of NIECR to the network. This will be done in a phased approach that has been based on logistical reasons and to ensure rollout happens in the most efficient way possible. CPNI wishes to reassure contractors and their teams that there will be no particular advantage/disadvantage from a service perspective being earlier or later within the rollout plans. There is also a commitment from SPPG to ensure full rollout happens as soon as possible.

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
For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Autumn 2023 COVID-19 & Seasonal Influenza Community Pharmacy Vaccine Service (CPVS)

Dear Contractor

SUMMARY

  • PGDs are now available on the BSO website.  The PGD for COVID-19 can be found here and the PGD for influenza can be found here.
  • The COVID-19 PGD is not valid until 18th September. No COVID vaccines can therefore be administered before this date under the CPVS service.
  • Orders for QIVc have exceeded the anticipated volumes required by community pharmacy.  Quotas have therefore been put in place.  Any orders above the levels stated below need prior approval from SPPG.  The quotas in place are:
    • 5 boxes (50 doses) for pharmacies vaccinating Care Homes.
    • 1 box (10) for pharmacies vaccinating walk-in patients.

ACTION

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

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has today issued correspondence (HERE) dated 8 September 2023 extending the expiry date of Serious Shortage Protocol SSP058.

Effective from 21 August 2023, SSP058 enables community pharmacists to supply patients with one EpiPen® 300mcg / 0.3ml solution for injection auto-injector pen for every Jext® 300mcg / 0.3ml solution for injection auto-injector pen originally prescribed.  Note: it is important that the patient / carer / guardian understands how to administer an Epipen® 300mcg / 0.3ml solution for injection auto-injector pen when making a supply under this SSP.

The expiry date for SSP058 has been extended to Friday 20 October 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 version of the existing SSP which is 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 dated 8 September 2023 and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of the specific details relating to SSP058; 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 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