Dear Colleague

CURRENT MEDICINES SHORTAGE

Department of Health (NI) has requested that the information compiled by DHSC, is cascaded to relevant primary care services for information and action as appropriate.

Please note this notification relates to a current shortage of :

Zemtard (diltiazem) 240mg XL

Docusate sodium 100mg capsules

Practices and Community Pharmacies are encouraged to liaise re local stock situation and plans for management.

Note: Information on this and previous shortages is also posted at
http://www.hscbusiness.hscni.net/services/3065.htm

Yours sincerely

Vanessa

SENT ON BEHALF OF DR. VANESSA CHAMBERS | Head of Policy & Development

Dear Colleague

Please find here for your attention, correspondence from Donncha O’Carolan, Interim Head of Dental Services, HSCB.

Yours sincerely

Vanessa

SENT ON BEHALF OF DR. VANESSA CHAMBERS | Head of Policy & Development

FOR THE ATTENTION OF All Community Pharmacists Providing Vaccination Services

Dear Colleague

Please find here for your information, correspondence from Dr Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer; Prof Charlotte McArdle, Chief Nursing Officer and Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer.

In summary, the Resuscitation Council UK has now published updated information for use in any vaccination setting. The updated information can be found here.

Yours sincerely

Vanessa

SENT ON BEHALF OF DR. VANESSA CHAMBERS | Head of Policy & Development
 

DRUG ALERTS Available here:
BSO Communications (Drug Alerts) MPS 2744 – 16 December 2020
Medicines Recall – Zerbaxa 1g/0.5g Powder for Concentrate for Solution for Infusion

MPS 2743 – 15 December 2020
Medicines Defect Information – Co-careldopa 25mg/100mg tablets

MPS 2741 – 14 December 2020
Medicines Defect Information – Perindopril 2mg, 4mg and 8mg
SHORTAGES INFORMATION available here:

BSO Shortages Information MPS 2742 – Supply Alert – 15 December 2020
Colestyramine

Supply Alert – 7 December 2020
Atracurium Besilate Solution for Injection Vials & Ampoules (all strengths)

Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated with drug information, alerts and shortages information via CPNI’s Contractor Calendar or via the BSO communication website.

Please continue to notify CPNI of any pricing issues you are experiencing via our new Medicine Shortage Reporter.

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

Yours sincerely

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

Dear Colleague

CPNI appreciates there have been several returns required by the HSCB over the previous number of weeks. For CPNI, HSCB and DoH to continue to work both effectively and collaboratively, on securing funding in the future for all pharmacy services, it is essential that all activity associated with each service is recorded and submitted in a timely manner

REMINDER:

  1. Living Well Campaign: Looking after your health and wellbeing during COVID-19
  • As per previous correspondence your pharmacy is required to complete a short online evaluation survey.
  • The closing date is today – 18th December 2020. The survey can be accessed here.
  1. Community Pharmacy Home Delivery
  • As per previous correspondence, HSCB are seeking a monthly return detailing the number of deliveries made from commencement of the HSCB commissioned delivery service in September 2020.
  • Please submit a return detailing the number of deliveries for September, October and November separately.
  • The return should be made, preferably by secure e-mail, to the local office email address as detailed below.  
  1. Pharmacy First Monthly Record Form
  • Pharmacy contractors should submit the Pharmacy First monthly record form detailing the Pharmacy First consultations made via the service.
  • These forms can then be scanned using the pharmacy’s scanner or using the free Adobe scan app on a mobile device and returned by secure email to the local HSCB office on a monthly basis, on the date of second prescription submission (4th December 2020).
  • See here for more Pharmacy First service information and guidance.
  • Also, should you wish to provide the service, you must complete and return the contract to your local office before commencement of the service, if you haven’t already done so.

Due to the increasing level of service-related information and deadline dates for community pharmacies to keep abreast of, CPNI have developed the contractor calendar available here. We hope you find this resource useful, please share with all members of your pharmacy team(s).

Please do not hesitate to contact your local HSCB office, or the CPNI office, should you require any further information or clarification.  

Yours sincerely

SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

Dear Colleague

This is the second update of concessionary prices granted for December 2020.

DrugPack
Size
Concessionary
Price
Ciprofloxacin 500mg tablets10£3.30
Desmopressin 10micrograms/dose nasal spray60 dose£22.81
Docusate 12.5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free300ml£13.19
Docusate 50mg/5ml oral solution sugar free300ml£13.39
Docusate 100mg capsules30£3.20
Entacapone 200mg tablets30£8.12
Eplerenone 25mg tablets28£8.20
Eplerenone 50mg tablets28£7.79
Esomeprazole 40mg gastro-resistant capsules28£3.01
Esomeprazole 20mg gastro-resistant tablets28£5.58
Lamotrigine 200mg tablets56£5.08
Olmesartan medoxomil 10mg tablets28£3.09
Olmesartan medoxomil 40mg tablets28£3.79
Sulfasalazine 500mg gastro-resistant tablets112£11.95
Sulfasalazine 500mg tablets112£7.20
Trimethoprim 100mg tablets28£2.07
Zonisamide 100mg capsules56£61.16

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

https://www.communitypharmacyni.co.uk/item-shortages/
 
Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website

https://www.communitypharmacyni.co.uk/services/concessionary-prices/

Yours sincerely

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