Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague
The final update of concessionary prices were granted today for March 2025:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Ascorbic acid 500mg tablets28£36.08
Captopril 50mg tablets56£23.50
Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension70£8.41
Desmopressin 120microgram sublingual tablets sugar free30£18.09
Desogestrel 75microgram tablets84£2.37
Duloxetine 30mg gastro-resistant capsules28£1.84
Duloxetine 60mg gastro-resistant capsules28£1.93
Fusidic acid 1% modified-release eye drops5£21.00
Ivermectin 10mg/g cream45£36.58
Latanoprost 50micrograms/ml eye drops2.5£1.59
Lercanidipine 10mg tablets28£3.64
Letrozole 2.5mg tablets28£1.82
Lofepramine 70mg tablets56£24.33
Lorazepam 1mg tablets28£2.53
Melatonin 2mg modified-release tablets30£2.72
Metformin 1g / Sitagliptin 50mg tablets56£7.55
Metronidazole 400mg tablets21£1.86
Midazolam 10mg/2ml solution for injection ampoules10£5.11
Mometasone 0.1% cream30£3.59
Morphine sulfate 10mg/1ml solution
for injection ampoules		10£4.78
Oxybutynin 2.5mg tablets56£1.11
Paracetamol 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free200£5.53
Paracetamol 500mg effervescent tablets100£5.37
Pregabalin 20mg/ml oral solution sugar free473£51.36
Prochlorperazine 3mg buccal tablets50£20.33
Prucalopride 1mg tablets28£20.15
Prucalopride 2mg tablets28£9.87
Riluzole 50mg tablets56£311.11
Tadalafil 2.5mg tablets28£10.85
Tadalafil 5mg tablets28£4.60
Telmisartan 80mg tablets28£7.04
Timolol 0.5% eye drops5£1.63
Trihexyphenidyl 2mg tablets84£3.10
Trimethoprim 200mg tablets6£0.88
Trimethoprim 200mg tablets14£2.05
Trimethoprim 50mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free100£4.88
Vardenafil 20mg tablets4£17.82
Venlafaxine 225mg modified-release capsules28£20.71
Venlafaxine 300mg modified-release tablets30£43.09

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 Pricing/Supply Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
*** Webinar tomorrow 1 April 6.30-7.30pm ***
Dear Contractor
CPNI issued contractor emails on 10 March 2025 and 24 March 2025 regarding a pilot to support community pharmacist access to Independent Prescriber (IP) training by providing funding for those who agree to act as a DPP.  Information on the pilot is available here and on the NICPLD IP webpage.

A final information webinar will be held tomorrow (1 April 2025) 6.30-7.30pm.

SUMMARY

  • Community pharmacists who wish to apply for the NICPLD Independent Prescribing (IP) course can submit applications up to 15 April 2025.
  • To undertake IP training, community pharmacists must have a Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP).
  • In recognition of the difficulties faced by community pharmacists in securing a DPP, a pilot has now been launched in which funding of £1500 is available for up to 50 eligible DPPs who agree to support a community pharmacist.
  • NICPLD has indicated that a number of DPPs have come forward to indicate that they are willing to support a community pharmacist trainee.  
  • The pilot funding will only be available for those commencing training in August 2025.
  • A final information webinar for prospective applicants or DPPs will be held tomorrow 1 April 2025 6.30-7.30pm with registration available here or by emailing nicpld-prescribing@qub.ac.uk.

ACTION

  • Contractors are asked to note the information provided above and share with relevant members of the team, including any community pharmacists considering IP training, and any existing community pharmacist IPs who may consider acting as a DPP under the support scheme.

Queries on the DPP support scheme can be sent to nicpld-prescribing@qub.ac.uk. Alternatively, please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI team or email Ennis.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
**FOR THE ATTENTION OF LIVING WELL PHARMACIES ONLY**
Dear Contractor
Correspondence has been issued by SPPG on 31 March 2025 regarding the launch of the Living Well survey for the campaign ‘Look after your mental health’.

SUMMARY

  • The survey for the campaign ‘Look after your mental health’ is open and can be accessed here.
  • The survey must be completed by 6pm on 28 April 2025, please ensure to reach the final screen to confirm submission.

ACTION

Contractors are asked to review the SPPG correspondence issued on 31 March 2025 and share with all relevant members of the pharmacy team.

For any further information please contact CPNI offices.

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

All-Party Group on Community Pharmacy – Tuesday 25th March 2025

CPNI representatives met with local politicians on the deepening financial crisis which is threatening the existence of many local community pharmacies and undermining the role they could play in relieving health service pressures.  Read more here.

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and to promote awareness of bowel cancer and key symptoms, Bowel Cancer UK has issued a toolkit for Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.

Resources in the toolkit which you may wish to share on your social media channels include symptoms awareness videos, social media graphics, and posters.

Autumn 2024/25 Community Pharmacy Flu Vaccination Programme REMINDER: 

  • The Autumn 2024/25 Flu vaccination programme is coming to an end on Monday 31 March 2025.
  • Providers are requested to not vaccinate eligible cohorts after this date.
  • Please share this information with all relevant staff to allow adequate time for clinic arrangements and stock management.

Vaccination Training Sessions via UCA-NI & Coastal Core

Full Training
Suitable for new vaccinators or vaccinators who have had a break from practice
Saturday 5th April, Limavady: 1-4.30pm
Sunday 6th April, Belfast: 10am-1.30pm

In-person Refresher on BLS/Anaphylaxis
Periodic in-person refreshers are recommended for all vaccinators
Saturday 5th April, Limavady: 1-2.30pm
Sunday 6th April, Belfast: 10am-11.30am

Links to book directly with Coastal Core: Training Programs – UCANI

NB. While dates are limited to those stated above, additional dates can be facilitated subject to minimum numbers.

Queries can be emailed to UCA-NI via: office@ucani.co.uk

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 Pricing/Supply 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
For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Autumn 2024 Seasonal Influenza Community Pharmacy Vaccine Service (CPVS):

SPPG have issued the following reminder:

The Autumn 2024/25 Seasonal Influenza Programme Finishes Monday 31st March 2025.

  • Vaccination should not occur after this date and the autumn flu vaccination PGD will no longer be valid.
  • Residual stock: Pharmacies should dispose of any residual aQIV and QIVc stock after 31st March in waste bins provided.

If you have any queries about the Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service (CPVS) please contact Greg Miller (greg.miller@hscni.net) or Grainne McMahon (Grainne.McMahon4@hscni.net).

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The third update of concessionary prices were granted today for March 2025:
DrugPack
Size		Concessionary Price
Buprenorphine 8mg sublingual tablets sugar free7£6.39
Calcium and Ergocalciferol tablets28£7.41
Chloramphenicol 1% eye ointment4£3.08
Clomethiazole 192mg capsules60£34.44
Isosorbide mononitrate 10mg tablets56£3.25
Methylphenidate 10mg tablets30£5.49
Ondansetron 8mg tablets10£3.93
Oxybutynin 5mg tablets56£2.90
Ramipril 2.5mg tablets28£1.19
Ursodeoxycholic acid 300mg tablets60£54.22
Verapamil 80mg tablets84£2.20

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 Pricing/Supply Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive