Archives: Contractor Email

Correspondence to Registered Pharmacists from i) Aaron McKendry, MRG and ii) Laura Hughes, PSNI

Dear Contractor,

Contractors and all pharmacists are asked to read and consider correspondence issued by:

  1. Aaron McKendry, Interim Head of Medicines Regulatory Group, DoH(NI) here.
  2. Laura Hughes, Registrar PSNI here.

It is important that the information provided in both letters is considered by all pharmacists providing services from your pharmacy(-ies).

Kind regards,

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Contractor,

Following representation by CPNI, we have received confirmation from SPPG that the September reimbursement price for Dapagliflozin 5mg and 10mg will be retained at £36.59 for both strengths, rather than the reduced prices that are published in the September Drug Tariff.

We trust this is a helpful update.

Kind regards,

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Contractor,

This is a reminder to please submit your completed Community Pharmacy Daily Interventions Survey Master Form.

The data collected is vital to demonstrate the breadth of non-commissioned activity delivered by community pharmacies, highlight unmet needs, and provide robust evidence to support future funding and service development discussions.

Please ensure that:

  • The Master Form is completed in FULL.
  • There are multiple tabs at the bottom of the Master Form (See image below): please check that ALL tabs are completed before submission.  If you have already submitted your Master Form without realising there were multiple tabs please submit an updated complete version as soon as possible.
  • Please include all activity, no matter how routine it may seem, to avoid under-representing the vital work taking place in your pharmacy.

Your participation is essential to ensure that the full contribution of community pharmacy is captured and recognised.  We greatly appreciate the time and effort you and your teams have dedicated to completing this important survey.

Kind regards,

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The final update of concessionary prices were granted today for September 2025:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Clotrimazole 1% cream50£3.67
Co-amoxiclav 250mg/62mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free100£4.52
Co-careldopa 12.5mg/50mg tablets90£5.01
Codeine 15mg/5ml linctus sugar free200£12.02
Paracetamol 500mg effervescent tablets100£6.11
Sulpiride 400mg tablets30£13.64

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 Pricing/Supply Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Contractor,

This is a reminder that the Community Pharmacy Daily Interventions Survey finishes today.

The purpose of this survey is to capture the breadth of non-commissioned activity in community pharmacies, including patient presentations, referrals, advice provided, and phone call consultations. The evidence gathered will demonstrate the vital contribution of community pharmacy teams, highlight unmet needs, and support future funding and service development discussions.

Your participation is essential to ensure this survey reflects the reality of practice and the pressures faced by contractors and their teams.  Please ensure that intervention logs are completed daily throughout the survey week and collated into the master form (pdf here or excel here) for submission.

Completed Master Forms should be emailed to info@communitypharmacyni.co.uk, the DEADLINE for submissions is Friday 3rd October 2025.  We understand some contractors may not have access to Microsoft Excel therefore if they wish to submit a paper version of the Master Form this should be posted to Community Pharmacy NI, 5 Annadale Avenue, Belfast, BT7 3JH before Friday 3rd October 2025.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to showcasing the value of community pharmacy.

Kind regards,

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence here dated 26 September 2025 relating to the extension of SSP077 and SSP078 (Cefalexin 125mg/ml and 250mg/ml oral suspensions).  The letter advises that both SSPs have been extended to Friday 24 October 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 26 September 2025, and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of the extension of SSP077 and SSP078, 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