Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague

You will be aware funding has been secured to enable the Pharmacy First Winter Ailments service to operate again in community pharmacies from 2nd November 2020 until 31st March 2021.

It is important to note that this is still a transitional service developed specifically to address winter pressures this year. The Pharmacy First service will continue to be developed incrementally with a Urinary Tract Infection pilot due to commence later this year. In the future the e-pharmacy workstream will provide the infrastructure required to support a full Pharmacy First Service based on a patient registration model.

The following service resources are available, on the dedicated Pharmacy First webpage on CPNI’s website, available here.

  • Service specification 20/21
  • Service guide for community pharmacists 20/21
  • Service Contract 20/21 – this should be signed and returned via email to your local HSCB office before you commence the service
  • Privacy notice template
  • Advice sheet for sore throat and common cold
  • Advice sheet for patients with symptoms of Coronavirus
  • Pharmacy First Monthly Record Form

In order that HSCB, CPNI and DoH can continue to work collaboratively to secure funding in the future for the Pharmacy First Service it is essential that all activity associated with the service is recorded on the monthly record forms and these are submitted in a timely manner.

CPNI have produced a 15 minute Pharmacy First training webinar, which we hope you find useful, available here. It should be used alongside the service specification and guidance to train all members of the pharmacy team involved in service delivery.

Printed copies of the service posters will be distributed to contracted pharmacies. Pharmacies may also wish to promote the Pharmacy First service on their social media accounts, using the patient information leaflet available on the BSO website. Pharmacy First communications will be shared on CPNI’s social media channels, please feel free to share.

If you have any queries in relation to the service please contact the pharmacy advisor in your local HSCB office or Kerry Grimes in the CPNI office.

Please share this information with all members of the pharmacy team involved in Pharmacy First service provision.

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

Dear Colleague

HSCB Update on Northern Ireland HSC Trust Dispensing on Discharge from Hospital

Please find attached for your attention, correspondence from Joe Brogan, Assistant Director of Integrated Care, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management, HSCB. Should you require additional information please contact your local HSCB Integrated Care office, details of which are provided below.

Please bring this HSCB correspondence to the attention of the pharmacists within your dispensary teams.

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

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Dear Colleague,

The final update of concessionary prices for October 2020 have been released and are as follows:

Drug Pack Size Concessionary Price
Chlorphenamine 4mg tablets 28 £2.30
Ciprofloxacin 500mg tablets 10 £6.79
Desmopressin 10micrograms/dose nasal spray 60 dose £22.41
Duloxetine 30mg gastro-resistant capsules 28 £2.50
Duloxetine 40mg gastro-resistant capsules 56 £14.50
Lamotrigine 25mg tablets 56 £2.50
Lamotrigine 100mg tablets 56 £6.51
Lamotrigine 200mg tablets 56 £7.33
Metronidazole 400mg tablets 21 £3.97
Mycophenolate mofetil 500mg tablets 50 £6.50
Nizatidine 150mg capsules 30 £15.65
Olanzapine 10mg tablets 28 £3.12
Sulfasalazine 500mg gastro-resistant tablets 112 £10.72
Sulfasalazine 500mg tablets 112 £6.88
Valsartan 80mg capsules 28 £9.41

The full list of concessionary prices can be found on our website www.communitypharmacyni.co.uk

Kind regards,

Katherine

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF KATHERINE KIDD | Head of Pharmacy Development

*** REMINDER *** Closing Date Today Friday 30th October 2020

Dear Colleague,

COMMUNITY PHARMACY INFRASTRUCTURE – FACILITATION OF REMOTE CONSULTATIONS – HSCB GRANT FUNDING ALLOCATION

Please find attached a HSCB Grant Funding Allocation and declaration/claim form in respect of a mobile tablet device to facilitate remote consultations.

Payment of £800 is available to each community pharmacy contract upon submission of Appendix A – Grant Application Form to your local HSCB office and subsequent approval. The closing date for declaration/claim forms is Friday 30th October 2020.

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

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Dear Colleague,

HSCB £4.75m Community Pharmacy Staff Funding Allocation Letter – October 2020

Summary

Mr Joe Brogan, HSCB has issued a letter COVID-19: Community Pharmacy Funding for Staff Pressures by secure email to community pharmacies across Northern Ireland. The letter relates to £4.75m funding being provided to Contractors in respect of additional staffing pressures that community pharmacies face due to COVID-19 and it is part of the £13.25m Community Pharmacy funding allocation that was announced by Mr Robin Swann, Minister for Health on 1st July 2020.

The letter, sent by secure email to each pharmacy, states the amount of funding that is allocated to the recipient pharmacy.

You will see from the attached template HSCB letter that Contractors are required to complete and return a Community Pharmacy Funding Staff Pressures Declaration (Appendix A) to HSCB offices by Tuesday 10th November 2020 for the funding to be released and paid by the BSO.

If you operate more than one pharmacy a separate declaration has to be submitted for each pharmacy contract.

Action

In order to avail of the funding Contractors should:-

  • Obtain a copy of the letter that has been issued by secure email to each pharmacy you operate.
  • Note the funding allocation being made available by HSCB to each pharmacy you operate.
  • Consider the steps you will have to undertake in order for the funding to be released to the pharmacy(-ies) you operate, noting in particular the Declaration (Appendix A) return date of Tuesday 10th November 2020
  • Note that you will be required to submit information to HSCB at a later date as part of an assurance process, similar to the HSCB assurance process that you were asked to complete in June 2020 for the funding provided previously for staff and premises modifications.

CPNI will provide you with additional information w/c 2nd November 2020 to assist you further in this matter further.

In the event that you cannot access the secure email account(s) associated with the pharmacy(-ies) you operate please contact your local HSCB office who will be able to provide you with details of the funding being provided.

It is anticipated that the funding will be paid by BSO at the end of November to pharmacies that return the declaration by 10th November 2020.

The release of this funding is positive and to be welcomed. It will assist you and your pharmacy teams in the coming weeks and months to continue providing important and highly valued community pharmacy services to your patients during the COVID pandemic.

If you have queries in relation to the letter please contact your local HSCB office or the CPNI office.

Contact Details for Local Integrated Care Offices: 

I trust this is helpful.

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

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Dear Colleague

URGENT: ALERT TO CPS – STOLEN DENTAL PRESCRIPTIONS HS21Ds (HAND WRITTEN)

Please find attached for your urgent attention, correspondence from Donna Scott, Head of Counter Fraud and Probity, BSO.

Please bring this to the attention of the pharmacists in your dispensary teams.

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

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