Archives: Contractor Email

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:

• Serious Shortage Protocol – Fluoxetine 40mg capsules.
• Resources to Support the Extension of the Flu Vaccination Service
• PHA News – ‘No room for complacency on flu – flu vaccine now available for 50-64 years’.
• ECHO Session: Brexit Stakeholder Follow-up Event 23 February 2021 @ 7.30pm-9.00pm. 
• Drug Alert, Class 3 Medicine Recall Kolanticon Gel 500ml.

CPNI ALERTS 

• As per our correspondence on Wed 27 Jan 2021 – see previous correspondence here. The extended flu vaccination service has commenced from Monday 11 Jan 2021 – see previous correspondence here. 
• Vaccination uptake is progressing well within the cohort and CPNI is keen to support the promotion of this service to the wider public.
• We would ask you to please share social media posts promoting the extended service, both CPNI and HSCB resources are available.
• CPNI has produced a flyer to help contractors promote the extended CPFV service, this could be attached or inserted into the prescription bags of patients aged 50-64 years, flyer can be found here.

DoH ALERTS 

• Serious Shortage Protocol – Fluoxetine 40mg capsules. Please find attached correspondence and SSP relating to Fluoxetine 40mg capsules, from Mrs. Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer. ECHO Session:
• EU Transition Follow-up Meeting Tuesday 23 February 2021 @ 7.30pm-9.00pm. Please find attached correspondence from Mrs. Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer.
  • This event is a follow up to the information evenings held in December 2020 which discussed preparing for EU exit.  Participants will have the opportunity to hear an update from the Department of Health EU team on issues relating to EU Exit and the Northern Ireland Protocol and also to raise questions.
  • Zoom joining details – https://zoom.us/join 
    • Meeting ID: 91972253061 Password: 646380

PHA ALERTS

• PHA is urging 50-64 year old who have not yet had the free flu vaccine to get it soon. The seasonal flu vaccination programme has been extended to include those over 50, which will help protect more people from flu and relieve further pressure on the health service.
• To find out what community pharmacies are participating in the flu vaccine programme click here.

BSO ALERTS 

Drug Alert – Class 3 Medicine Recall – Kolanticon Gel 500ml. Please find attached correspondence relating to Kolanticon Gel 500ml, from Mrs. Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer.

• Intrapharm Laboratories Ltd has received a number of complaints that the product consistency is lumpy. The investigation has confirmed through review of the retained samples that the consistency of the complaint samples are similar and the retained samples for this batch show the same homogeneity issue.
• ACTION: Stop supplying the above batch (AC0620) immediately. Quarantine all remaining stock and return it to your supplier using your supplier’s approved process.

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

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

Dear Colleague

PRELIMINARY NOTICE is hereby given that the First Annual General Meeting of the Members of the Company will be held at 8.00pm at the registered office, 5 Annadale Avenue, Belfast BT7 3JH, on Thursday 25 February 2021 for the purpose of considering the following business:

1. Notice of meeting.
2. Apologies for absence.
3. Directors’ Report on Company Activity in 2020.
4. Chairman’s Report
5. Report on the Summary Income Statement and Balance Sheet for the year ended 31 October 2019.
6. Appointment of Auditors
7. Appointment of Solicitors
8. Closing remarks by the Chairman

AGM papers will be sent out by post on or before 15 February 2021.

Due to the current COVID restrictions the AGM will take place by ZOOM, with login details being provided in advance of the AGM.

By order of the Board

SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE

Chief Executive

Dear Colleague

• As per our correspondence on Wed 27 Jan 2021 – see previous correspondence here. The extended flu vaccination service has commenced from Monday 11 Jan 2021 – see previous correspondence here. 
• Vaccination uptake is progressing well within the cohort and CPNI is keen to support the promotion of this service to the wider public.
• We would ask you to please share social media posts promoting the extended service, both CPNI and HSCB resources are available.
• CPNI has produced a flyer to help contractors promote the extended CPFV service, this could be attached or inserted into the prescription bags of patients aged 50-64 years, flyer can be found here.

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).

Kind regards – Vanessa

SENT ON BEHALF OF DR. VANESSA CHAMBERS

Head of Policy and Development

Dear Colleague

The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence regarding the current Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Fluoxetine 40mg capsules.

This SSP comes into operation from 1 Feb 2021 and has an expiry date of 31 Mar 2021.

ACTION:

Contractors are advised to:

(a) Bring this SSP to the attention of your pharmacy team.

Further information on SSPs is available on the BSO website which can be accessed here.

Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s Serious Shortage Protocols.

Kind regards – Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF Prof. Mike Mawhinney  Head of Regulatory Affairs

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 27^th 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 27^th 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 

• SAFETY OF ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS IN PREGNANCY: UPDATED ADVICE FOLLOWING COMPRENSIVE SAFETY REVIEW.
• UPDATED GUIDANCE ON TIMING OF COVID-19 VACCINE DOSING INTERVAL IN PATIENTS DUE TO RECEIVE TREATMENT WITH IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS.
• COVID-19 THERAPEUTIC ALERT – ANTIMICROBIALS (AZITHROMYCIN AND DOXYCYCLINE) NOT BENEFICIAL IN THE MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19 – (SARS-CoV-2) POSITIVE PATIENTS.

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