In light of the Drug Tariff changes GPs have been asked to review patients on an individual basis to ensure that the use of Multiple Dispensing (MD) endorsement on prescriptions is restricted to circumstances (and medicines) associated with a risk of misuse or abuse. GPs have been asked to remove and no longer initiate MD endorsement for the purposes of life threatening non compliance.
The new Drug Tariff arrangements aim to separate and distinguish between:
the provision of MD endorsement for instalment dispensing for prevention of misuse/abuse, from
the provision of adherence support for prevention of non-compliance.
However, it is acknowledged that some patients will have needs which fall under both arrangements.
Therefore, some patients who previously had an MD endorsement for non-compliance issues who have now had this endorsement removed, may require assessment by their community pharmacist and where necessary they may need to be transitioned on to appropriate adherence support. Guidance on the management of these patients is provided on Pages 9-10 of the SPPG guidance document.
CPNI is working with SPPG to finalise a transitionary payment arrangement for contractors in light of the gradual removal of MD endorsement. This is subject to approval and further information will be provided in due course.
Guidance
It will be for community pharmacy providers to assure that they are compliant with their statutory requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
No other Health Care Practitioner can direct a community pharmacy to provide a patient with adherence support (this would include social care/domiciliary care providers).
The SPPG guidance includes practical advice in relation to the provision of adherence support, and the relevant DDA obligations. Please note the DoH guidance is advisory. It aims to provide support to community pharmacy providers and their staff in relation to these obligations. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (www.equalityni.org) can also be contacted for further advice.
Contractors will be aware that DDA legislation has been in place since 1995 and does not represent any new obligations on community pharmacy. The full legislation can be accessed here.
Declaration
SPPG request a declaration and quarterly return from community pharmacy providers.
The declaration is available here and should be completed and returned to local offices by 30th June 2023.
The quarterly return form is available here. The return for the April – June period should be completed and returned to local offices by Friday 7th July 2023.
Communication between Community Pharmacies and General Practices
CPNI received queries and concerns from community pharmacies in the immediate aftermath following the changes to the Drug Tariff on 1st May 2023.
These concerns focused on patient safety.
CPNI previously provided information and templates for contractors in CU#230503B: Multiple Dispensing Update. In light of ongoing collaboration between SPPG and CPNI, CPNI have agreed that the correspondence and attached guidance within this email supersede CU#230503B.
Local working is encouraged between community pharmacy and GP practices to ensure effective communication in advance of any changes.
ACTION
Contractors should:
Review the SPPG correspondence and liaise with GP practices accordingly.
Note that the declaration is to be returned to local offices by 30th June 2023.
Note that the return for the April – June period should be completed and returned to local offices by Friday 7th July 2023.
Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI offices if you have any queries.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
You will be aware from recent media reports that a cyber attack was carried out on a payroll provider serving a number of major businesses – including a multinational pharmacy chain.
This update is to remind you that you can take some simple steps to protect your business against such online security threats. Having good cyber security measures in place will help protect your cash flow, your customer data and your reputation.
Cyber Aware offers simple advice to help small businesses stay safe online.
Cyber Action Plan offers sole traders and small businesses a simple, personalised ‘to do’ list to help protect your business.
The Small Business Guide shows how to improve cyber security within your organisation quickly, easily and at low cost.
Free Online Training – Top Tips for Staff This online learning module helps you and your staff understand why cyber security is important and shows how to take practical steps to protect against fraud and cyber crime. It’s totally free, easy-to-use and takes less than 30 minutes to complete.
Online Asthma Information Session – 21st June 2023
NI Chest Heart and Stroke has asked CPNI to share, with pharmacy teams, details of an online Asthma Information Session that they are facilitating at 6.30pm on Wednesday 21st June 2023. Further information can be found in the NICHS flyer here.
Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF Gerard Greene Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
Further to previous notifications (CU#230517B: Preliminary Notice CPNI AGM and CU#230523B: REMINDER – Preliminary Notice CPNI AGM) advising that the CPNI AGM will take place at 4pm on Thursday 8th June 2023 in CPNI Offices, 5 Annadale Avenue, Belfast, TEAMS joining details are provided below for those CPNI Contractors wishing to join the meeting remotely.
Members are asked to confirm their attendance, or otherwise, to info@communitypharmacyni.co.uk for administrative purposes before 1pm on Thursday 8th June 2023.
Please note that admission to this meeting will be restricted to pharmaceutical contractors and superintendents of bodies corporate (Limited Companies) only.
Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI offices should you require any additional information.
Yours sincerely
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Please Note the Correct and Updated Link to the Survey.
Dear Contractor
CPNI issued a contractor update (CPNI CU#230428A) on 28th April regarding the Department of Health NI Technician and Support Staff Survey. The information is provided again below along with an updated survey link. The closing date for completion of the survey has been extended to 14th June 2023.
The Department of Health NI issued correspondence on 6th April 2023 inviting all individual pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support staff to complete an online survey. The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer has advised that the survey is designed to provide a better understanding of the current numbers and skills mix in the pharmacy workforce, and to provide an opportunity for pharmacy colleagues to share their views. The Department has also developed a printable flyer containing background information for pharmacy personnel and a QR link to the survey.
SUMMARY
Contractors will note:
The survey is aimed at pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support staff in all sectors, including community pharmacy.
The survey branches into different sets of questions depending on the area in which the respondent works, their role, and any qualifications they may hold. Therefore staff members may be asked different questions depending on their individual circumstances.
The closing date for completion is extended to 14th June 2023.
DoH advises that the results of the survey will be used in the implementation of the Pharmacy Workforce Review 2020, which seeks to deliver a sustainable pharmacy workforce for the future.
In addition, DoH indicates that the survey will also support work to establish pharmacy technicians as a regulated healthcare profession in Northern Ireland, as announced by the Minister for Health in June 2022.
Share the updated survey flyer and survey link with pharmacy technicians and support staff, noting the extended closing date of 14th June 2023.
Contractors should contact CPNI offices should they have any queries or should their staff experience any difficulties in accessing or completing the survey.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.
Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF Gerard Greene Chief Executive
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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