Archives: Contractor Email

For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing Community Pharmacy Care Home Support Service (CPCHSS)
Dear Contractor
SPPG have informed CPNI that there are a number of outstanding declaration forms for the care home support service which requires contractors to complete two visits per care home for the 23/24 year.

SUMMARY

  • A requirement for the Community Care Home Support Service is to complete two visits per care home in each financial year.
  • For the 23/24 year, there are a number of declaration forms still to be submitted to SPPG confirming that the two visits per care home have been completed.
  • SPPG have advised that there are some pharmacies that provide the CPCHSS  who fall into one of the following categories:
    • Not submitted a return for any care home visit within the 23/24 year.
    • Only submitted a return for one visit for a care home within the 23/24 year.
    • Submitted returns for some care homes, but not all of the care homes that they are contracted for.
  • SPPG may recoup a proportion of the funding that has already been paid to community pharmacists who are contracted to provide the service but have not completed the required visits in line with the service specification.

ACTION

  • Contractors who provide the CPCHSS are requested to submit a return confirming the two visits per care home for 23/24 have been completed.
  • Ensure that the two visits per care home for 24/25 are completed before the end of March 2025.

If you wish to check if you have any outstanding returns due to SPPG regarding the 2023/24 care home support service please contact Tom Coyle at SPPG: Tom.Coyle@hscni.net.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
  • SPPG has issued correspondence dated 17 January 2025 in relation to the FTY 2026/2027 selection and recruitment process.
  • The letter has been signed by the joint Chairs of the Task and Finish Group which was established by the Department of Health as part of the reform of Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists, and tasked with developing a suitable joint process. 

Should you have any queries it may be helpful to contact the Task and Finish co-chairs.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The third update of concessionary prices were granted today for January 2025:
DrugPack
Size		Concessionary Price
Benzydamine 0.15% mouthwash sugar free300£4.65
Cefalexin 500mg tablets21£2.99
Chloramphenicol 0.5% eye drops10£4.60
Clotrimazole 500mg pessary and Clotrimazole 2% cream1£6.30
Co-amoxiclav 250mg/62mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free100£4.65
Desmopressin 120microgram sublingual tablets sugar free30£23.35
Flucloxacillin 500mg capsules28£2.78
Isosorbide mononitrate 20mg tablets56£3.84
Naftidrofuryl 100mg capsules84£10.80
Olanzapine 20mg tablets28£3.23
Olanzapine 5mg orodispersible tablets sugar free28£6.00
Oxybutynin 5mg tablets56£1.50
Perindopril erbumine 8mg tablets30£2.07
Pregabalin 100mg capsules84£2.29
Propantheline bromide 15mg tablets112£103.52
Ramipril 2.5mg tablets28£1.22
Telmisartan 40mg tablets28£5.36
Travoprost 40micrograms/ml / timolol 5mg/ml eye drops2.5£13.95

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 Shortage Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence here dated 17 January 2025 extending the expiry dates of SSP080 and SSP081 relating to Estradot 75mcg and 100mcg patches to Friday 14 March 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 original letter detailing these SSPs dated 19 December 2024 (here) and the letter (here) dated 17 January 2025;
  • Ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of the extension of the expiry dates of SSP080 and SSP081; and
  • Note guidance relating to the decision pathways for these 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

**FAO LIVING WELL PHARMACIES ONLY**
Dear Contractor
SPPG have issued correspondence on 20 January 2025 regarding the Living Well Service.

SUMMARY

  • The ‘Look after your mental health’ campaign is to begin on 1 February 2025 and will promote the recently updated Minding Your Head website.
  • Various resources including posters, leaflets, and wallet cards will be provided and if these are not received by 27 January 2025, SPPG have asked community pharmacies to email reception.pha@hscni.net immediately and title the subject heading as ‘LIVING WELL PHARMACY CAMPAIGN’.
  • Replacement resources cannot be provided if not reported by 3 February 2025.
  • Social media posts released by PHA can be shared on social media channels to increase the reach of the campaign. Details of this schedule along with printable resources can be found here.
  • The campaign for ‘Stay well this winter’ will finish on 31 January 2025, and the survey will open on 3 February 2025 at 9am and will close on 3 March 2025 at 6pm.
  • The survey opening and closing dates are included on the BSO 2025 calendar provided to all contractors.
  • When completing the required survey, please ensure to use the correct contractor number.
  • Appendix 1 and 2 within the correspondence has more information on the surveys, and tips on survey completion.

ACTION

Contractors are asked to read the correspondence issued by SPPG on 20 January 2025 regarding the Living Well Service and share with all relevant members of the team.

Any queries regarding the content of this letter can be directed to your local SPPG office.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.

CPNI ALERTS

DOH(NI) ALERTS

BSO ALERTS

Training Event: Webinar on Human Factors and Medication Safety

Community Pharmacists in NI are invited to attend the third session of a webinar series on 21 January 2025 at 7pm-8pm that has been organised by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society on behalf of the joint Royal Colleges.

The online webinar Exploring Human Factors: Designing systems to enhance medication safety, will discuss look-alike sound-alike medicines (LASAs) and will demonstrate different approaches that can be taken to improve the safety of systems.  To register for the webinar please click here.

Transforming Medication Safety NI (TMSNI)

The TMSNI group have organised an Echo session on 5 February 2025 10-11.30am to discuss Look-Alike Sound-Alike medicines (LASAs).  The TMSNI group are requesting input into the session from any community pharmacists that have done additional work in this area to improve medication safety.

If any community pharmacists wish to provide input into the next Echo session, please contact Clare at CPNI for further information.

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

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

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

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
Gerard Greene
Chief Executive