Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor

The Department of Health NI issued correspondence on 23 December 2022 HERE in respect of Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs).

It details that, further to recent correspondence from the Department of Health on SSPs – and as detailed in recent contractor updates issued on 16 and 20 December 2022, the DHSC has issued an update in respect of SSP043 to SSP047.

SUMMARY

  • 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.
  • DHSC has advised that SSP043 – SSP047 have now been updated to include azithromycin preparations as an additional alternative supply option to substitute for phenoxymethylpenicillin.
  • Pharmacists should refer to the latest version of these SSPs which are now available on the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) website HERE– and will shortly be available on the Business Services Organisation (BSO) dedicated page on its website HERE.
  • As before, these SSPs apply in all parts of the UK and have an expiry date of 31 January 2023.
  • For each SSP, DHSC has included specific patient counselling points which must be considered when deciding whether supply in accordance with an SSP is suitable for a patient.
  • Before supplying an alternative antibiotic, the pharmacist must firstly consider if a suitable supply can be made by using an alternative formulation of phenoxymethylpenicillin in accordance with the relevant SSP (SSP040 – SSP042). Where that is not possible only specified antibiotics can be substituted for prescriptions for duration of no longer than 10 days, in order of preference depending on availability and the dosing needs for the patient (see specific SSP for details).

ACTION

Contractors are asked to:

  • Note that DHSC has advised that SSP043 – SSP047 have now been updated to include azithromycin preparations as an additional alternative supply option to substitute for phenoxymethylpenicillin
  • Review the DoH(NI) letter of 23 December 2022 from DHNI detailing this update, ensure that they are familiar with the detail contained within each SSP, and to ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of these new protocols.
  • Note that the ‘Addendum – Supporting information on notifying other healthcare professionals’ does not apply in Northern Ireland.  Pharmacists in Northern Ireland should refer to the existing SSP operational guidance on the BSO website HERE.
  • Note also the specific guidance on professional judgement and patient/carer consent detailed in the letter and in the operational guidance.

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

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams, including details of the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BSO ALERTS 

CPNI ALERTS 

DOH(NI) ALERTS 

Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s Contractor Calendar or Contractor Emails

Or report medicine shortages, pricing and staffing issues via the CPNI’s Medicine Shortage Reporter or Situation Reporter

Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF 
DR. GARETH C. GILVARY
Governance & Support Pharmacist
Dear Colleague
The fourth update of concessionary prices were granted today for December 2022:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Amoxicillin 125mg/5ml oral suspension100£4.49
Amoxicillin 125mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free100£6.49
Amoxicillin 500mg capsules15£3.81
Amoxicillin 500mg capsules21£5.34
Aripiprazole 5mg tablets28£24.29
Atenolol 50mg tablets28£2.41
Bimatoprost 100micrograms/ml eye drops3£3.66
Brimonidine 0.2% eye drops5£4.35
Cefalexin 125mg/5ml oral suspension100£3.75
Chlorphenamine 2mg/5ml oral solution150£3.62
Citalopram 10mg tablets28£0.89
Clarithromycin 250mg tablets14£4.78
Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension70£7.76
Clobazam 10mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free150£91.85
Clonidine 25microgram tablets112£20.09
Co-amoxiclav 250mg/125mg tablets21£3.42
Co-amoxiclav 250mg/62mg/5ml oral suspension
sugar free		100£4.13
Desloratadine 5mg tablets30£5.33
Dutasteride 500microgram capsules30£3.30
Entacapone 200mg tablets30£6.52
Erythromycin 250mg gastro-resistant tablets28£3.41
Flucloxacillin 125mg/5ml oral solution100£4.35
Flucloxacillin 250mg capsules28£4.62
Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml oral solution100£5.14
Fludroxycortide 4micrograms/square cm tape 7.5cm20£19.89
Gabapentin 300mg capsules100£3.45
Ivabradine 5mg tablets56£12.99
Methylphenidate 10mg tablets30£4.88
Miconazole 2% cream30£2.79
Mometasone 0.1% ointment100£14.42
Naftidrofuryl 100mg capsules84£11.33
Nitrofurantoin 100mg tablets28£15.33
Paracetamol 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free200£11.74
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution100£6.63
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution
sugar free		100£6.63
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution100£9.05
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution
sugar free		100£9.05
Pregabalin 100mg capsules84£4.88
Pregabalin 25mg capsules56£1.73
Pregabalin 50mg capsules84£2.75
Rabeprazole 20mg gastro-resistant tablets28£12.94
Ramipril 10mg tablets28£1.68
Risperidone 500microgram tablets20£3.67
Salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml nebuliser liquid unit dose vials20£14.78
Salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml nebuliser liquid unit dose vials20£10.41
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment30£21.02
Tetracycline 250mg tablets28£23.11
Tolterodine 2mg tablets56£7.06
Topiramate 100mg tablets60£24.74
Topiramate 25mg tablets60£13.20
Trazodone 100mg capsules56£9.11
Trazodone 50mg capsules84£14.38
Trospium chloride 20mg tablets60£22.35
Venlafaxine 75mg tablets56£12.66
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 Colleague
The third update of concessionary prices were granted today for December 2022:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Baclofen 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free300£5.76
Bumetanide 1mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£235.00
Carbocisteine 250mg/5ml oral solution300£8.14
Carbocisteine 375mg capsules120£15.15
Cetomacrogol cream (Formula A)500£3.25
Chlorphenamine 2mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£7.06
Cinnarizine 15mg tablets84£6.05
Clindamycin 150mg capsules24£3.00
Clotrimazole 1% cream20£2.22
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg effervescent tablets32£4.04
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg effervescent tablets100£12.62
Cyclizine 50mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules5£14.15
Digoxin 125microgram tablets28£4.66
Digoxin 250microgram tablets28£4.55
Digoxin 62.5microgram tablets28£4.75
Dihydrocodeine 30mg tablets100£7.24
Dihydrocodeine 30mg tablets28£2.03
Docusate 50mg/5ml oral solution sugar free300£20.63
Domperidone 1mg/ml oral suspension sugar free200£47.50
Donepezil 5mg orodispersible tablets sugar free28£59.85
Doxycycline 100mg capsules8£0.96
Duloxetine 30mg gastro-resistant capsules28£3.78
Duloxetine 60mg gastro-resistant capsules28£5.11
Fluoxetine 20mg/5ml oral solution sugar free70£14.50
Fluoxetine 60mg capsules30£2.23
Fusidic acid 1% modified-release eye drops5£32.28
Ibandronic acid 150mg tablets1£2.12
Levetiracetam 500mg tablets60£4.37
Liothyronine 5microgram tablets28£100.94
Lisinopril 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£198.00
Methylphenidate 5mg tablets30£3.70
Metoprolol 50mg tablets28£1.95
Mometasone 0.1% cream30£4.10
Mometasone 0.1% ointment30£4.40
Pregabalin 150mg capsules56£2.82
Pregabalin 50mg capsules84£2.75
Rabeprazole 10mg gastro-resistant tablets28£7.06
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg orodispersible tablets sugar free6£9.61
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg tablets12£25.04
Zolmitriptan 2.5mg tablets6£12.52
Zopiclone 3.75mg tablets28£3.78
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 Colleague
The second update of concessionary prices were granted today for December 2022:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml oral suspension100£4.34
Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free100£3.87
Calcipotriol 0.005% / Betamethasone dipropionate
0.05% ointment		30£12.99
Carvedilol 6.25mg tablets28£2.85
Chloramphenicol 1% eye ointment4£4.30
Cinacalcet 30mg tablets28£13.55
Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension70£5.21
Clotrimazole 1% cream50£5.54
Co-amoxiclav 500mg/125mg tablets21£9.85
Colecalciferol 1,000unit capsules30£8.31
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml eye drops5£4.75
Dosulepin 25mg capsules28£5.75
Erythromycin ethyl succinate 500mg tablets28£14.20
Famotidine 40mg tablets28£36.30
Flucloxacillin 500mg capsules28£3.99
Fluoxetine 20mg/5ml oral solution70£14.30
Frovatriptan 2.5mg tablets6£18.17
Hydroxocobalamin 1mg/1ml solution for injection
ampoules		5£13.19
Lamotrigine 25mg dispersible tablets sugar free56£23.99
Latanoprost 50micrograms/ml eye drops2.5£2.55
Mometasone 50micrograms/dose nasal spray140£4.80
Naproxen 500mg tablets28£2.12
Naratriptan 2.5mg tablets6£3.10
Naratriptan 2.5mg tablets12£6.20
Omeprazole 20mg gastro-resistant capsules28£3.20
Oxybutynin 5mg tablets56£2.55
Paracetamol 500mg soluble tablets24£3.83
Paracetamol 500mg soluble tablets100£15.95
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg tablets28£3.99
Pregabalin 300mg capsules56£4.01
Promethazine hydrochloride 25mg tablets56£34.19
Rivastigmine 3mg capsules28£5.79
Telmisartan 20mg tablets28£5.31
Telmisartan 40mg tablets28£3.33
Temazepam 10mg tablets28£31.00
Temazepam 20mg tablets28£33.00
Topiramate 50mg tablets60£19.98
Valsartan 40mg capsules28£7.30
Valsartan 80mg capsules28£8.99
Venlafaxine 37.5mg tablets56£5.17
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