The Department of Health has announced that they will host an ECHO webinar on IP on 18 February 2025. The agenda is available here.
Pharmacists can register to join the community pharmacy ECHO network by emailing e.kane@hospiceuk.orgor
CURRENT POSITION IN COMMUNITY PHARMACY
50 NICPLD IP training places are available for community pharmacy applicants in the 25/26 cohort.
As of w/c 27 January 2025, only 4 community pharmacists have submitted completed applications. Note: Applications are not considered “complete” until a DPP has been secured.
CPNI is aware that the number of community pharmacists wishing to undertake IP training is significantly higher than those who have been able to complete applications.
Many community pharmacists are unable to apply due to the difficultly in obtaining a suitable DPP. This was evidenced by a survey conducted by CPNI in December 2023.
BSO data indicates that at present, there are approx. 26 community pharmacist IPs who are actively prescribing with HSCNI prescription pads.
It is likely that there are other community pharmacist IPs who are not currently using their IP skills.
Community pharmacist IPs can obtain a HSCNI cipher and prescription pad by following the updated process outlined in the SPPG letter of 12 December 2024, available here.
Community pharmacist IPs may also be involved in the provision of private services that utilise their IP skills. This prescribing activity may also be considered relevant for those considering acting as a DPP for a fellow pharmacist.
CPNI CONSIDERATION
In early February, CPNI wrote formally to the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer and met with NICPLD to outline the ongoing difficulties experienced by community pharmacists who are unable to access IP training, and requested that specific supports are now put in place to allow all 50 community pharmacy IP training places to be filled.
In parallel, CPNI has called on the Department to further develop IP services in the community pharmacy sector, to:
Utilise and develop the existing IP skills in the network.
Prepare the sector for the new pharmacists from 2026 onwards who will join the register as IPs.
Enable existing community pharmacist IPs to act as a DPP for a fellow pharmacist or an FTY undertaking IP training, and thus remove the reliance on other health professionals and sectors for DPP support.
While CPNI welcomes any potential expansion or extension to community pharmacy prescribing services, we continue to underscore that this must happen at pace and in a manner which also fully supports IP training and career development for the existing community pharmacy network.
As such, CPNI considers that the Department and NICPLD must now provide specific supports, actions and timelines in relation to developing IP in community pharmacy.
Those attending the Department of Health ECHO may have an opportunity to raise questions on matters of concern, such as those referred to above.
CPNI would welcome a similar degree of urgency, support and flexibility for the development of IP in the community pharmacy sector as has been extended to the Hospital sector in preparation for the integration of IP training into the new FTY programme, and in providing DPP support for up to 200 FTY trainees per year.
ACTION
Contractors are advised to:
Review the information provided above and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team, including any pharmacists who are considering IP training or DPP roles.
Please contact NICPLD if you have any questions or queries relating to IP. Additionally, should you wish to speak to a member of the CPNI team please call or email Ennis.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.
CODING OF PART 1 ADAPALENE 0.1% / BENZOYL PEROXIDE 2.5% GEL 45g AND ADAPALENE 0.3% / BENZOYL PEROXIDE 2.5% GEL 45g
CPNI made representation to SPPG to highlight that the only available pump packs of both adapalene 0.1% / benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel and adapalene 0.3% / benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel is a 60g pack size.
As an interim solution for February 2025 prescriptions, contractors may dispense the 60g pump pack size against a 45g prescription.
Prescriptions for the product adapalene 0.1% / benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel (45g) should be coded using the generic code 14915 over 60, or multiples thereof if the prescribed quantity is greater than 45g (e.g. 2 packs (90g).
Prescriptions for the product adapalene 0.3% / benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel should be coded using the generic code 73987 over 60, or multiples thereof if the prescribed quantity is greater than 45g (e.g. 2 packs (90g).
Prescriptions must be placed in the amended batch of your submission to ensure the correct reimbursement is processed.
Please note: the price of 60g pump pack for both strengths is £27.80, which is 133% the price of the 45g pump pack (£20.85).
All information regarding this can be seen in the MPS issued by BSO.
DHSC are discussing arrangements beyond February 2025, and CPNI will continue to inform contractors accordingly.
Consultation on Valuing Medicines – DoH Stakeholder Engagement Webinar
A webinar is being held on Friday 21 February 2025 12-2pm by the Department to discuss Valuing Medicines – A Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Medicines in Northern Ireland.
The webinar will give attendees the opportunity to learn more about the consultation and share any views.
Further information including joining details can be found here.
The consultation can be found here and closes on 26th February 2025.
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 Community Pharmacy Care Home Support Service (CPCHSS)
Dear Contractor
Correspondence has been issued 7 February 2025 by SPPG to those pharmacies involved in the Community Pharmacy Care Home Support Service (CPCHSS).
SUMMARY
A requirement for the Community Care Home Support Service is to complete two care home visits each financial year.
The second care home visit is due to be completed by the end of March 2025.
SPPG have introduced a process for partial recuperation of payments made to community pharmacists who are contracted to provide the service but have not completed the required visits in line with service specification.
SPPG will be in contact in early April to seek confirmation and dates of the visits completed during 24/25 year.
ACTION
Contractors should read the correspondence issued by SPPG 7 February 2025.
Any pharmacy yet to complete the second required care home visit should organise a date before the end of March 2025.
Please share this information with all relevant members of the team.
EXTENSION: Thank you to everyone who has provided information so far. The closing date has been extended to 10th February 2025 so if you have not provided your information yet then there is still time to do so. Your support is greatly appreciated with this matter.
The following changes, announced in the Autumn budget, will impact considerably Community Pharmacy payroll costs from April 2025:
Minimum Wage:
1. The minimum wage for over 21s, known as the National Living Wage, will increase by 6.7%, from £11.44 to £12.21 from 1 April 2025. 2. For 18- to 20-year-olds, the minimum wage will increase from £8.60 to £10.00. 3. Apprentices will also see a wage increase, from £6.40 to £7.55 an hour.
National Insurance:
4. Employer National Insurance contributions (currently 13.8%) are to increase to 15% from April 2025. 5. The salary threshold where employer National Insurance contributions begin will be reduced to £5,000 per year. 6. The Employment Allowance for small businesses will be increased from £5,000 to £10,500.
CPNI’s initial estimate indicates approximately £10m additional cost impact for the community pharmacy sector next year. We have advised SPPG accordingly and are seeking mitigations against these cost increases. You will also be aware of joint representations having been made by CPNI-BDA-BMA-ONI on this matter (CPNI CU#241202B). SPPG and DoH(NI) also recognise that significant changes to National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) arrangements from 1st April 2025 obligate community pharmacies to review and increase all staff salary/wages from April 2025 and we have been asked by SPPG for assistance in obtaining information from contractors on the impact of the above budget changes on sector payroll costs in 2025/26.
Many of you will have linked with your payroll and/or accountancy advisors to establish the cost impact for you next year and your assistance is therefore sought in relation to providing the anticipated monetary impact of the following payroll costs in 2025/26 for your pharmacy business:
1. Total increased salary/payroll costs anticipated in 2025/26 compared to the current year. The impact of the E’er NIC changes referred to above should also be provided. 2. The number of pharmacy staff that this relates to. 3. The percentage of the increased costs that relate to staff with any NHS related activity. 4. The number of pharmacies to which the information relates to.
We previously gathered information relating to the periods 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 payroll/tax years. Can we ask that you also include the 2024/25 costs alongside the anticipated 2025/26 costs?
If possible, can you provide an estimate of your payroll (Salary/pension/E’er NIC) cost increases between 2023/24 and 2024/25 to demonstrate the impact of the April 2024 NMW/NLW changes (including the impact those changes had on the payroll cost increases for other higher paid staff members)?
Additional pension contribution costs will also be required in due course given that increased pension costs are also a natural consequence of NMW/NLW increases.
As indicated above your payroll and/or accountancy advisors may be able to help you to provide the information we are seeking.
A number of contractors have already linked with CPNI to provide initial information and we acknowledge and appreciate that. We know there are many demands on your time at present but would ask that you try to provide the information listed above to office@communitypharmacyni.co.uk no later than Monday 3rd February 2025.
Any information provided to CPNI will treated as private and confidential, it will be internal to CPNI office staff only and it will be shared only with SPPG in an anonymised and collated format for the purposes outlined above.
Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI office should you need additional information or clarification in relation to this request.
Kind regards,
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
As you will be aware, The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has launched a consultation proposing a number of changes pertaining to registration and retention fees.
The consultation closes on 24 March 2025, and the full suite of documents can be accessed here.
Summary
PSNI proposes:
1. The following fee changes:
Initial Registration Fee: Proposed to increase from £398 to £477
Annual Retention Fee: Proposed to increase from £398 to £477
It is important to note that fees in relation to the registration or retention of pharmacy premises are not considered in this consultation.
Contractors may also be aware that GPhC has issued a consultation on fees which may be accessed here. They propose that, from September 2025, pharmacist renewal fees would increase by £17 to £293, and from September 2026, would increase by £17 to £310.
Contractors should remember that registrants in GB may also elect to join the professional body (the Royal Pharmaceutical Society) at a current cost of £243 per annum.
2. To change the method of notification of fees to include the option to receive notification via post or via email.
3. To enable retention fees to be collected in quarterly instalments by Direct Debit.
Action
The CPNI team will be drafting a response, and contractors are asked to consider the proposals and to respond directly to PSNI. CPNI will share our proposed response for your information. You may also send any comments to Mike or Ennis before Friday 21 February 2025.
Kind regards
Mike
SENT ON BEHALF OF PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY Head of Regulatory Affairs
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