This
is the first update of concessionary prices for November 2020.
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.
SENT
FOR AND BEHALF OF GARETH C. GILVARY | Governance & Support Pharmacist
Dear Colleague
Cyber Security – Community
Pharmacies
You will be aware that cyber security is a global issue and that
systems worldwide are being continually targeted to access data and financial
assets. It would appear that no system – personal or corporate – is
immune from these attacks. If you are a small or medium-sized enterprise
(SME), the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) estimates that there is around
a 1 in 2 chance that you will experience a cyber security breach.
CPNI has become aware of incidents within the community pharmacy sector outside Northern Ireland where attempts have been made to interfere with the data held.
Community pharmacies hold a large volume of sensitive personal
and financial data and any breach of the security systems protecting this
information could be very damaging to the economic stability of the business
and the welfare of patients. It may also leave contractors open to
possible punitive action by the Information Commissioner’s Office under DPA and
GDPR legislation, with resulting reputational damage to the individual and the
profession.
CPNI has been working closely
with the cyber security lead from the Police Service of Northern Ireland who
has held discussions with a number of contractors here to understand the
challenges that contractors face in managing their data. There is a range
of potentially vulnerable devices within the community pharmacy setting
including PMR systems (which may be supported to varying levels by the
supplier), and extending to routers, laptops, mobile phones and printers.
Several initiatives have arisen
from this collaborative work with the police (which draws on information
produced by the National Cyber Security Centre), and from discussions with Prof
Colin Adair, NICPLD.
In collaboration with the police cyber security team and NICPLD, CPNI will:
Forward
guidance issued by the police detailing five key steps that can be taken
to improve cyber security (attached);
Forward
regular cyber security updates;
Contribute
to the development of an eLearning programme to be launched by NICPLD in
early 2021; and
The step-by-step packages in (a)
above cover the areas detailed below and further information can be accessed by
clicking on the topic headline in the guidance:
Backing
up your data
Protecting
your organisation from malware
Keeping
your smartphones (and computer tablets) safe
Using
passwords to protect your data
Avoiding
phishing attacks
Following the relevant advice in
the guidance packages and in the eLearning programme will significantly
increase your protection against the most common types of cyber crime.
The topics covered are easily understood and cost little to implement.
While this guidance cannot guarantee protection from all types of cyber attack,
it does demonstrate how simple steps can greatly contribute to the protection
of your data, assets, and reputation.
Contractors are reminded that the
storage and back up of patient sensitive data and any amendments to your
systems should be carried out in line with advice from your PMR system provider
and in line with Data Protection legislation.
CPNI team and police colleagues will be happy to further assist
you where necessary.
Yours sincerely
SENT
FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive
Update
on the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) in Northern Ireland post 31 December
2020
Background
As you are aware, the UK has left the EU and the Transition Period ends on 31 December 2020.
On that
date, some regulatory requirements will no longer apply but certain EU
legislation will continue to have effect in Northern Ireland under the Northern
Ireland Protocol (NIP) (part of the UK’s Withdrawal Agreement with the EU).
The UK
FMD Working Group for Community Pharmacy has issued an update outlining the
position of the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) in Northern Ireland post 31
December 2020 (attached).
Summary
Under the
terms of the NIP, the FMD will still apply in Northern Ireland, for
at least four years (until the NIP is due to be reviewed).
All
end users in Northern Ireland, including pharmacy contractors, will remain connected to the UK National Medicines
Verification System (UKMVS) run by SecurMed UK. They need
to continue to verify and decommission any packs with FMD safety features
(unique identifiers and anti-tamper devices) in line with the requirements
of relevant EU and UK medicines legislation.
SecurMed
UK will continue to provide end user registration and necessary support to
enable Northern Ireland end users to decommission packs with FMD
identifier features into 2021 and beyond.
Action
Contractors
are asked to:
Ensure that their dispensary
teams are aware of the content of this letter;
Continue to verify and
decommission FMD-compliant packs of prescription medicines.
Refresher training should be carried out if needed.
For
further guidance please contact your software supplier in the first instance,
and check for further help on the SecurMed UK website (www.securmed.org.uk).
The CPNI
team will continue to support you on these matters.
Kind regards
Mike
Sent
on behalf of Prof Mike Mawhinney | Head of Regulatory Affairs
Download
Dear Colleague
IMPORTANT UPDATE to NORTHERN IRELAND CONTACT TRACING SERVICE &
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) ORDERING
Please find attached for your attention, correspondence from Joe
Brogan, Assistant Director of Integrated Care, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines
Management.
Summary
Northern Ireland Contact Tracing Service Update
It has been agreed with the
Northern Ireland Contact Tracing service that community pharmacies will be
recognised as a primary care clinical setting and that assessments will be
performed by one of the PHA clinical leads.
PPE Ordering Update
The quantities of PPE mask type
IIR that can be ordered by community pharmacies for normal pharmacy activity
have been amended and allocation will be made based on the average number of
staff working in each community pharmacy per day.
Contact Details for Local Integrated Care Offices:
Yours sincerely
SENT FOR AND BEHALF
OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive
Download
*** Please REMEMBER to complete and submit your weekly
Community Pharmacy Sit ReportBEFORE
12 NOON TODAY***
CPNI appreciates there is an ever increasing volume of
contractor emails to keep on abreast of. As a result CPNI will be sending out a
weekly summary of ‘Drug Alerts’ and ‘Shortage Updates’.
In the meanwhile, pharmacy team(s) can keep updated with drug
alerts and shortages information via CPNI’s contractor calendar here
or via the
BSO website here.
Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).
Kind regards,
Kerry
Sent
on behalf of Kerry Grimes | Governance & Support Pharmacist
WhatsApp Business Terms of Service can be found here and privacy policy hereUCA-NI Privacy Policy We take your privacy seriously and do not share or sell any personal details with third parties for commercial purposes. If you have any questions, please contact the CPNI office. You can withdraw your consent to be contacted at any time by calling 028 9069 0444 or by emailing info@communitypharmacyni.co.uk. CPNI Data Protection Policy and Data Retention policy can be found Click Here
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