Community Pharmacies Prevent Over One Million GP Appointments
Dear Contractor
In September 2025, community pharmacy teams across Northern Ireland participated in the CPNI Community Pharmacy Daily Interventions Survey. The purpose was to record the breadth of non-commissioned activity taking place in pharmacies, with the aim of gathering robust evidence to demonstrate the important value and contribution of community pharmacy.
The results are compelling and clearly demonstrate that community pharmacies across Northern Ireland deliver an immense volume of unfunded clinical interventions each week. Key findings show that 24,700 unfunded community pharmacy consultations requiring treatment or intervention are typically undertaken each week, representing 1.28 million patient consultations across 507 pharmacies annually in Northern Ireland. Of these, 136,000 would have resulted in GP out of hours consultations (at weekends) and 47,000 patients would otherwise have resorted to seeking help at an Emergency Department. The remaining 1.1million patients were given diagnosis, treatment or advice which, in the absence of a local pharmacy, would have required a GP appointment.
On Tuesday 21st October 2025, CPNI shared some high-level findings with MLAs at the All-Party Group on Community Pharmacy. The briefing helped to further substantiate Members views regarding the untapped potential that exists for local pharmacies to do more to assess, treat and support people in our communities.
A press release relating to the meeting is available here.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your wider pharmacy team for participating in the survey. The evidence collated reinforces the urgent need for formal recognition, sustainable funding, and service expansion to ensure these essential interventions, both routine and exceptional, are properly supported and embedded within Northern Ireland’s health system.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
REMINDER: LIVING WELL CAMPAIGN SURVEY
**FAO LIVING WELL PHARMACIES ONLY**
Dear Contractor
Correspondence has been issued by SPPG on 20 October 2025 to those pharmacies yet to submit an evaluation survey for the Living Well campaign ‘Move more, feel better‘.
SUMMARY
All pharmacies contracted to provide the Living Well service must complete an evaluation survey after each campaign, unless otherwise informed.
SPPG reserves the right to recoup payment for a campaign if the evaluation survey is not submitted.
The survey for the campaign ‘Move more, feel better’ is open and can be accessed here.
The survey must be completed by 6pm Monday 3rd November 2025, please ensure to reach the final screen to confirm submission.
ACTION
Contractors who have yet to complete the Living Well survey for the campaign ‘Move more, feel better’ are asked to read the correspondence issued by SPPG on 20 October 2025 and share with relevant team members.
For any further information please contact CPNI offices.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.
Stop Smoking Month is due to take place from 1st – 31st March 2026. This November, Cancer Focus NI and the Public Health Agency, will be hosting a briefing event for Stop Smoking providers and stakeholders, such as community pharmacies. The aim of the briefing is to facilitate planning and preparation, and to provide information on participation and key messages. The briefing will take place from 7-9pm on 12th November 2025 in the Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim. Further information, including how to register, is available in the flyer.
CPNI has produced a promotional clip for social media, highlighting the Stop Smoking service – available here.
BCPP News
The Community Development and Health Network (CDHN) have shared the latest edition of BCPP News.
The newsletter provides an overview of some of the Building Community Pharmacy Partnership (BCPP) projects which have taken place across Northern Ireland.
The Toolkit is a free, personalised cyber security solution for sole traders to small organisations that turns cyber protection into simple, achievable steps.
NICSC explains that this toolkit helps owners secure their businesses with straightforward actions. The toolkit guides users to build stronger cyber protection at their own pace, with built-in features that recognise progress – providing a starting point to cyber security and a pathway towards Cyber Essentials certification.
Action
Contractors are asked to:
Note the link to the free Cyber Action Toolkit and consider if this is appropriate for adopting for their business.
Contractors are reminded that the storage and back up of patient sensitive data and any amendments to your systems should only be carried out in line with advice from your IT or email provider, PMR system provider and in line with Data Protection legislation.
Kind regards
Mike
SENT ON BEHALF OF PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY Head of Regulatory Affairs
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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