Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague
Due to the changes in COVID-19 testing arrangements and restrictions, there has been a spike in public demand for lateral flow tests, leading to contractors reporting significant difficulties in obtaining supplies of these tests. You will be aware of recent HSCB correspondence HERE in relation to the community pharmacy LFT Collect service.
 
With demand outstripping supply, we have been working with the Department of Health NI and the Health and Social Care Board to put in place further logistics measures so that pharmacies are provided with sufficient LFT kits to meet this need.  The lateral flow supply service is somewhat unique in that it is UK-wide with the Department of Health England holding the contract for the four nations and we have asked the Department of Health NI to make representations to increase local allocations.
 
We appreciate that due to the high demand, increasing numbers of patients are visiting or phoning pharmacies to check if test packs are available, often voicing their frustrations to community pharmacy teams when none are in stock.
 
We have also engaged in extensive media coverage to convey this message to the public this week with interviews by Peter Rice, CPNI Chair BBC Newsline, UTV Live and Good Morning Ulster. This is alongside additional media interviews carried out by community pharmacists across Northern Ireland within the past week.

Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI offices should you require any additional information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
Please find correspondence HERE from Joe Brogan, Assistant Director of Integrated Care, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management.

SUMMARY

  • From 10 January 2022, community pharmacies will have access to the PHA Vaccinator Pool.
  • Initially, requests can only be accepted in situations where sickness and/or self-isolation may result in cancellation of a planned walk-in or appointment based clinic.
  • This will be kept under review and access will be widened as resource versus demand permits.

ACTION

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The final update concessionary prices were granted for December 2021:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Metformin 1g/5ml oral solution sugar free150ml£80.00
Metformin 850mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150ml£68.00

Concessionary prices will be paid against the usual code, no additional endorsements are needed.

Concessionary prices may be granted up until the end of the month so CPNI will notify you of any further concessionary prices as and when they are agreed.

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
DR. GARETH C. GILVARY
Governance & Support Pharmacist
Dear Colleague
Please find correspondence HERE from Joe Brogan, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management, Health and Social Care Board.

SUMMARY

  • Pharmacy contractors are reporting significant work force pressures. Contributing factors include staff absences due to COVID-19 infection or having to self-isolate due to being in close contact with a COVID-19 case.
  • This has resulted in increased staffing costs, as contractors are required to pay other staff to cover the absences in order to remain open. It has therefore been determined that funding of up to £3,000 per community pharmacy should be provided to support additional staff costs.
  • Please see attached Grant Funding Allocation declaration form in respect of this funding. This declaration is an estimate of the funding that you will require for the period January to March 2022 and is required for HSCB budgetary purposes.

ACTION

  • Contractors and pharmacists involved in the provision of this service are asked to:
  • Please do not hesitate to contact your local HSCB office or the CPNI office should you require any further information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
Please find correspondence HERE from Prof Sir Michael McBride,Chief Medical Officer.

SUMMARY

  • This CMO letter circular replaces HSS (MD) 85/2021 with immediate effect.
  • The main change to this guidance is that it allows staff identified as close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case, to return to work without taking and waiting for a PCR result providing they do not work closely with the most clinically vulnerable patient and clients.
  • A risk assessment of the service area should be undertaken and documented along with a record that all mitigations as set out HERE are in place.

ACTION

  • Contractors and pharmacists involved in the provision of this service are asked to:Review the correspondence.
  • Please do not hesitate to contact your local HSCB office or the CPNI office should you require any further information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Colleague

Contractors and CPNI have been advised in correspondence HERE that additional LFD are available for one-off collection by pharmacy personnel from 2 BSO facilities today, Friday 31 December 2021 and on Monday 3 January 2022 located at:

  • BSO Procurement and Logistics Service, Unit 1 Shore Commercial Park, 75 Belfast Road, Carrickfergus, BT38 8PH and
  • BSO Procurement and Logistics Service, Unit 4B Campsie Industrial Estate, Mcclean Road, Eglinton, Co.Londonderry, BT47 3XX.

Contractors are asked to note the arrangements that apply if LFD’s are being collected from either of the two BSO facilities. 

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive