Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor

As you will be aware CPNI are represented on the Queen’s University Belfast Study Advisory Group within the School of Pharmacy. Recently ethical approval has been granted to the group to undertake research which would help capture the preparedness of community pharmacy and its response to the ongoing coronavirus global pandemic. 

Please find attached correspondence from researchers at the university who wish to undertake a brief telephone questionnaire with Community Pharmacists in the coming weeks as part of the study.

While participation is voluntary, CPNI would ask contractors to share this correspondence with pharmacists in your branch(es) and encourage them, when contacted, to arrange a time that suits so that they can participate in this important research. The research findings will be anonymised and will help inform planning in the event of future pandemics and public health crises. 

If you have any queries, regarding the completion of the telephone questionnaire, please contact;

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF Gerard Greene
Chief Executive

Dear Contractor

Canice Ward, Head of MRG, DH has issued a letter in respect of the annual controlled drug declaration and self-assessment.

As you know, these have been mandated since 2009 and previously were in hard copy.

From the 2021 reporting year, the form is now online.  This should be easier to complete and will allow responses to be viewed by the inspectorate without the need to visit your premises, which is to be welcomed during the pandemic period.  The form can be accessed at HERE. 

ACTION

Contractors are asked to: 

  1. Make their dispensary teams aware of the content of the letter and of the on-line form and
  2. Ensure that it is completed and returned online by 31 March 2021.

If you have any queries, regarding the completion of the questionnaire, please contact;

  • Sean Curley (02890528627) sean.curley@health-ni.gov.uk,
  • Aaron McKendry (02890 528628) aaron.mckendry@health-ni.gov.uk or
  • Michelle Keatings (02890 520230) michelle.keatings@health-ni.gov.uk.

Colleagues in CPNI will continue to assist you with these matters.

Kind regards Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF Prof Mike Mawhinney
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Colleague
As you know, from 1 January 2021, the Northern Ireland Protocol came into force, as a result of which the movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland became subject to new checks and controls. As a result, concerns had been raised with CPNI in respect of possible delays on the importation into Northern Ireland of some nutritional feeds and baby formulas.

The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs has issued guidance indicating that the grace period from most official certification requirements (such as export health certificates, phytosanitary certificates or marketing standards certification) which was agreed in December 2020 for products of animal origin, composite products, food and feed of non-animal origin and plants and plant products will now be extended until 1 October 2021.

ACTION

Contractors are asked to:

  • Note the extension of the grace period and
  • Report any delays with associated products which occur before the end of the grace period to the Drug Tariff Co-Ordinator, veranne.lynch@hscni.net.

Colleagues at CPNI will continue to support you in these matters.

Kind regards – Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Colleague

HSCB has issued correspondence in respect of the COVID-19 Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service (COVID-CPVS) including;

ACTION

Contractors are asked to:

  1. Read the above correspondence and associated documentation.
  2. Note that indemnity arrangements and aspects of the funding arrangements for this service are still to be finalised.
  3. Retain a copy of the service specification and contract until such times that the indemnity and remuneration arrangements are confirmed with you. Only after confirmation is provided to you that the indemnity and remuneration aspects have been agreed and put in place for this service should you sign and return, via email, the COVID-CPVS Contract to local HSCB offices.

CPNI will provide further updates to you in relation to this service as well as the indemnity and remuneration arrangements as soon as they become available.

Contractors are advised to contact either;

  • Chris Blayney (chris.blayney@hscni.net) or
  • Greg Miller (greg.miller@hscni.net).

Regarding queries at this stage in relation to this service.

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.

Dear Colleague

In today’s update:

  1. Weekly drug alerts, shortages information, serious shortage protocol and supply disruption alert.
  2. Community Pharmacy COVID-19 Vaccine Booking Systems.
  3. Contractor updates Ask For ANI Codeword Scheme, COVID-19 Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service and a Reminder To Report Medicines Shortages And Supply Chain Issues To CPNI.
  4. Northern Ireland Medicines Management newsletter.

BSO ALERTS 

CPNI ALERTS

DoH ALERTS

HSCB ALERTS

Pharmacy Forum NI ALERTS 

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

Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s Contractor Calendar and Contractor Emails or report medicine shortages or pricing issues via the CPNI’s Medicine Shortage Reporter.

Many thanks, stay safe – Gareth

SENT ON BEHALF OF DR. GARETH C. GILVARY
Governance & Support Pharmacist