Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague

Please see below email from Caroline McKeever, North West Regional College, seeking contractor participation in a review of the current Pharmacy Technician NVQ Level 3 course.

If you would like to take part in this review, please let Caroline know by 27th January 2021. Email: Caroline.McKeever@nwrc.ac.uk

Dear employer,

I am writing to ask if you would like to take part in an apprenticeship framework review for Pharmacy Technician Level 3. The review will require the voice of employers, ideally those who have had experiences of facilitating the training element required for apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships are funded by Department for Economy and are employer-led i.e. based on industry need and relevance for particular job roles.

The work that will be required to do this will involve at least 3 remote meetings, and time to review aspects of the framework and qualifications within.  Your primary role within this forum will involve consultancy/advisory roles; to help shape the new framework provision.

Proposed timeframe/tasks for completion are:
Meeting 1: Baseline review of current framework (end Feb 2021)
Meeting 2: Pathways and progression options for Pharmacy Technicians (end March 2021)
Meeting 3: Skills demand, forecast (end April 2021)

I will facilitate all communications to Department for Economy. At the end of stage 1 (tasks as listed above), I will be able to progress proposals through the Department for consideration, for change and modernisation of the apprenticeship framework. The entire process could take up to 18 months. However, the sooner we commence the work, the quicker we can see to the end of the review, with a polished product, serving your needs.

If you would like to take part in this review, please let me know by 27th January 2021. Email me at: Caroline.McKeever@nwrc.ac.uk

Looking forward to your reply,

Kind regards Caroline

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE

Chief Executive

This daily 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: January 2021 Concessionary Prices – 3rd Update, Updated Safety Advice of Antiepileptic Drugs in Pregnancy, Updated Guidance on Timing of COVID-19 Vaccine Interval in Patients due to Receive Treatment with Immunosuppressants, and Weekly Shortages Information.

CPNI ALERTS 

Concessionary Price 3rd Update January 2021.

DoH ALERTS 

HSCB ALERTS 

  • Update to Opioid Substitution Treatment: Northern Ireland Supplementary Guidance for Community Pharmacists
    • SUMMARY: Guidance was issued to contractors in July 2019. This was followed up through HSCB correspondence in November 2019, which underscored important information for community pharmacists providing the OST supervision service in respect of the actions required where the patient misses doses or where there is a change in circumstances. The service provided by community pharmacies means that the pharmacist is often the first and best placed healthcare professional to make a regular assessment of the patient’s compliance with treatment and of their general health and wellbeing.  It is therefore vital that all staff involved with the provision of this service are fully aware of the steps to follow. Following a review of SAIs, HSCB has written to community pharmacies giving details of an addendum to the original guidance which has been produced.  This provides further clarity on contacting the keyworker/prescriber and the actions required by the community pharmacist after missed doses. The HSCB letter can be found here, while the amended guidance can be accessed here.
    • ACTION: Contractors should:
      • Ensure the information outlined in this letter is brought to the immediate attention of all staff involved in the provision of this service, including locums
      • Retain Appendix 1 of this letter and keep with the original guidance document
      • Ensure relevant processes are reviewed and SOPs updated as required
      • Ensure a list of contact names and telephone numbers for prescribers and local addiction teams is kept and maintained in the pharmacy.  A directory of NI drug and alcohol services can be found here.
      • Keep a record of any communications with healthcare staff on these matters.
  • Weekly Drug alerts are available here.
  • Weekly Shortages Information is available here. SUPPLY DISRUPTION TO STOMA CARE PRODUCTS.

Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s Contractor Calendar and Contractor e-mails.

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

Kind regards – stay safe – Gareth

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

Update to Opioid Substitution Treatment: Northern Ireland Supplementary Guidance for Community Pharmacists

Dear Contractor

Guidance was issued to contractors in July 2019. This was followed up through HSCB correspondence in November 2019, which underscored important information for community pharmacists providing the OST supervision service in respect of the actions required where the patient misses doses or where there is a change in circumstances.

The service provided by community pharmacies means that the pharmacist is often the first and best placed healthcare professional to make a regular assessment of the patient’s compliance with treatment and of their general health and wellbeing.  It is therefore vital that all staff involved with the provision of this service are fully aware of the steps to follow.

Following a review of SAIs, HSCB has written to community pharmacies giving details of an addendum to the original guidance which has been produced.  This provides further clarity on contacting the keyworker/prescriber and the actions required by the community pharmacist after missed doses.  

The HSCB letter can be found here, while the amended guidance can be accessed here.

ACTION

Contractors should:

  1. Ensure the information outlined in this letter is brought to the immediate attention of all staff involved in the provision of this service, including locums
  2. Retain Appendix 1 of this letter and keep with the original guidance document
  3. Ensure relevant processes are reviewed and SOPs updated as required
  4. Ensure a list of contact names and telephone numbers for prescribers and local addiction teams is kept and maintained in the pharmacy.  A directory of NI drug and alcohol services can be found here.
  5. Keep a record of any communications with healthcare staff on these matters.

Colleagues in CPNI will continue to keep you updated.

Yours sincerely

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF PROF. MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Colleague

The following concessionary prices have been granted for January 2021:

DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Chlorpromazine 50mg tablets28£21.29
Esomeprazole 20mg gastro-resistant tablets28£6.57
Esomeprazole 40mg gastro-resistant capsules28£4.69
Lamotrigine 50mg tablets56£5.58
Olmesartan medoxomil 10mg tablets28£4.70
Olmesartan medoxomil 20mg tablets28£3.94
Olmesartan medoxomil 40mg tablets28£12.95
Pregabalin 25mg capsules56£4.20
Pregabalin 75mg capsules56£5.32
Pregabalin 300mg capsules56£7.84
Senna 7.5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free500ml£6.99
Trimethoprim 100mg tablets28£3.15

This is the third update of concessionary prices for January 2021.

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 – stay safe – Gareth

SENT ON BEHALF OF DR. GARETH C. GILVARY

Governance & Support Pharmacist

This daily update contains important information for community pharmacy teams, including details of the ongong response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wednesday 27 January 2021

Dear Colleague

In today’s update:

  • Register for future ECHO sessions
  • Promoting the extended CPFV service: prescription bag flyer

CPNI ALERTS

  • FAO Community Pharmacies providing the extended CPFV service
    The extended flu vaccination service has commenced from Monday 11th Jan 2021 – see previous correspondence here. The uptake has been progressing well and CPNI are keen to promote this service to the wider public. Please share CPNI’s social media posts promoting the extended service to 50-64year olds. CPNI have produced a flyer to promote the extended CPFV service, this could be attached or insert into prescription bags.
  • Community Pharmacy Flu Vaccination prescription bag flyer can be found here.

HSCB ALERTS 

  • Register for future ECHO Meetings here and access materials from Wed, 26 Jan 2021 COVID-19 CP ECHO meeting.

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

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

Many thanks – stay safe – Gareth

SENT ON BEHALF OF DR. GARETH C. GILVARY

Governance & Support Pharmacist

This daily update contains important information for community pharmacy teams, including details of the ongong response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dear Colleague

In today’s update: ECHO session 1930-2100, 26 Jan 2021, Concessionary Prices January 2021 – 2nd Update,  EOI: Community Pharmacy COVID-19 Mass Vaccination (CPC19V) Service, Reducing COVID transmission in staff rest areas, Reminders: Updating SITREPs and Extension to Living Well Campaign.

CPNI ALERTS 

Concessionary Prices January 2021 – 2nd Update

HSCB ALERTS 

Upcoming COVID-19 Community Pharmacy ECHO Meeting 26 Jan 2021. Click for agenda, attendance guidance notes and advice on security measures.

  • Metting ID: 7300812723 Passcode: 888561

 Expressions of interest: Community Pharmacy COVID-19 Mass Vaccination (CPC19V) Service including Annex B.

REMINDER: REDUCING COVID TRANSMISSION IN STAFF REST AREAS.

  • Summary: The PHA Contact Test and Trace Service have reported an increase in the number of cases of COVID-19 in community pharmacies where transmission has occurred between staff members. Transmission occurred when staff had been in close contact with each other during staff breaks and failed to socially distance or wear appropriate PPE.
  • Action: Review the correspondence. It is important to remind all staff that they should adhere to the required public health measures during rest/tea breaks and refer to the appropriate guidance on putting on and taking off standard PPE.

Northern Ireland Medicine Management Newsletter Vol 12 Issue 1.

REMINDER: UPDATING SITUATION REPORTS (SITREPs).

  • As you are aware community pharmacies are required to complete weekly SITREPs to support business continuity. In order to ensure that HSCB are responding to the most up to date information, the SITREP should report the current position within the pharmacy and any historic information is removed.

Schedule Update CP Service: Living Well Campaigns Extension Campaign 2 (2021/21) Vaccinations

  • Summary: In light of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme progressing further in its “roll-out”, it is recognised that there is an increased demand from the public for programme information therefore, it has been agreed that the current Living Well campaign “Vaccinations” will be extended for one month. This campaign will now finish on 28 February 2021.
  • Action: Review printable and additional resources as well as service information, that are available here.

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

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

Kind regards – stay safe – Gareth

SENT ON BEHALF OF DR. GARETH C. GILVARY

Governance & Support Pharmacist