SPPG issued correspondence dated 22 January 2026 regarding the Living Well Service.
SUMMARY
The ‘Immunise, protect, thrive’ campaign will commence on 1 February 2026 and will run for two months.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of immunisation and the need for babies and children to receive all their vaccinations according to the Routine Childhood Immunisation Schedule.
The posters, leaflets and campaign briefing for ‘Immunise, protect, thrive’ will be delivered to community pharmacies by 26 January 2026, unless arranged otherwise.
Note: The resources will arrive in a box labelled as follows:
If you have not received your campaign resource pack by 26 January 2026, please email reception.pha@hscni.net by no later than 9 February 2026 – using the subject heading “LIVING WELL PHARMACY CAMPAIGN”.
Note: This is for replacement and not additional supplies as resources for the campaign are limited.
Living Well posters should be displayed in at least one window unit of the pharmacy. Rotation of the supplied posters can occur over the campaign period.
PHA will release social media posts to support the campaign. Community pharmacies can share these on their social media channels, such as Facebook, X and Instagram, using the hashtags #LivingWell, #ImmuniseProtectThrive and #CheckTheirRedBook.
Training resources for this campaign are detailed in the campaign briefing.
A requirement for the Living Well service is to complete an online survey for each campaign. Further information on this can be found in the letter.
Living Well survey opening and closing dates have been added to the BSO 2026 calendar provided to all contractors.
Reminder: The fifth campaign for 25/26 “How are you feeling?”, will finish on 31 January 2026. The survey will open on 2 February 2026 at 9am and will close 2 March 2026 at 6pm.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to read the correspondence issued by SPPG on 22 January 2026 regarding the Living Well Service and share with all relevant members of the team.
Please contact CPNI offices if you have any questions in relation to this correspondence.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.
Following requests from community pharmacy teams, CPNI has attached a short guide outlining some ways to create a shortcut to the Living Well Campaign survey page.
SPPG issued correspondence dated 21 January 2026 regarding the governance arrangements in place for community pharmacist IP prescribing, including cipher application, deactivation and prescription security. The letter advises that the documentation for cipher applications and deactivation has been relocated on the Primary Care Intranet.
SUMMARY
The SPPG letter provides information on the cipher application and deactivation process and provides a link to further guidance on the primary care intranet here. A PDF copy is available here.
Community pharmacist IPs can apply for a cipher using the form found on the primary care intranet here. A Microsoft Word copy is available here.
Community pharmacists who no longer prescribe in a pharmacy, are required to deactivate the relevant cipher using the deactivation form found here. A Microsoft Word copy is available here.
Community pharmacist IPs can use their cipher to order a HS21 prescription pad using the Prescription Request Form on the BSO website. Guidance on the process is available here.
Should you have any queries please contact a member of the CPNI team.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence here dated 19 January 2026 relating to the withdrawal of SSP086 (Fixapost® (Latanoprost 50mcg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml) 0.2ml Unit Dose Preservative Free Eye Drops). The letter advises that the supply situation regarding the availability of the alternative product, Vizilatan® Duo, listed under SSP086 to be supplied for Fixapost® (Latanoprost 50mcg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml) 0.2ml Unit Dose Preservative Free Eye Drops can no longer support the additional demand. Consequently, SSP086 which was due to expire on Friday 6 February 2026 is being withdrawn and will now expire on Friday 23 January 2026.
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 19 January 2026, and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of the withdrawal of SSP086, 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
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence here dated 19 January 2026 relating to the withdrawal of SSP084 (Adipine XL 30mg Modified-Release Tablet)and SSP085 (Adipine XL 60mg Modified-Release Tablet). The letter advises that the supply issue with Adipine XL 30mg and 60mg tablets has changed, with the products now being discontinued. Consequently, SSP084 and SSP085 which were due to expire on Friday 6 February 2026 are being withdrawn and will now expire on Friday 23 January 2026.
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 19 January 2026, and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of the withdrawal of SSP084 and SSP085, 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
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