Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague

Notification from the Pharmaceutical Society NI on the Pre-registration Examination 2020

The Pharmaceutical Society NI (PSNI) has today issued advice on the examination of pre-registration pharmacists for the 2019-2020 period.  The letter can be accessed via the link below:

https://www.psni.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Final-exam-300420-statement-30-4.pdf

Important points include:

  • An examination will be scheduled in early August, subject to government advice on gatherings at that time. PSNI is currently researching venues with the intention of locating a number of sites which will facilitate adequate social distancing, and will make a further announcement later with dates, available venues and examination registration procedures. 
  • PSNI urges as many students and tutors as possible to complete any remaining compulsory aspects of training including 39 week appraisals and ensure that at least 45 weeks training have been completed by the end of July. 
  • PSNI advises that the Department will ensure pre-registration funding is available until the registration date in August, allowing trainees to remain in post with the agreement of their employer. Consideration is also being given to measures that may be needed to help students to prepare for the exam and to support professional development during the first year in practice.
  • PSNI advises that when 52 weeks training is complete, trainees will still require pharmacist supervision but need not be the sole pupil of their tutor. This additional period should be used to continue learning in preparation for entering practice and sitting the registration examination. 

Action

Contractors are advised to:

(a) Read the letter issued by PSNI and take any action necessary to ensure all relevant staff are aware of the revised procedures.

CPNI will continue to update and support contractors over the months ahead.

Kind regards

Mike

Sent on behalf of Prof Mike Mawhinney | Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Colleague

Further to the letter issued by HSCB on 19th March (attached), we can confirm that arrangements to stand down supervision remain in place for the majority of OST patients.  However, as outlined in a recent HSCB OST update letter (attached) recent discussions between HSCB and Trust Addictions services leads indicate that a small number of higher risk patients have been identified by Trust Addiction teams who still require a supervision service in community pharmacies where the pharmacy is able to safely do so. 

Trust and HSCB teams are fully aware that there may be issues with the choice of pharmacy in that not all pharmacies can provide the service due to the challenges in respect of social distancing. HSCB will liaise with service providers and Addiction services should there be a necessity to find a suitable pharmacy. Please note HSCB is fully aware that this may not be possible at this time and contractors are not under any obligation to provide the service.

Should you or your pharmacy team be approached by Trust Addiction teams requesting this service, please contact your local HSCB Pharmacy Adviser to discuss the issue further.

Community Pharmacy teams who provide supervised OST should note that access to PPE is recommended when providing the service to patients during this COVID period and to that end updated advice on PPE and the process for replenishment of PPE, effective from 1st May 2020, was included in a letter from Joe Brogan and Cathy Harrison to all community pharmacies on 1st May 2020 (and shared with Contractors in the CPNI COVID Contractor Update#82 issued earlier today).

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

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Letter to GP CPs Update on OST

Letter Community Pharmacy Stand Down Supervision Arrangements OST

Dear Colleague

HSCB/DOH CORRESPONDENCE: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Update and Reordering Process

Please see attached a letter being issued by Joe Brogan, HSCB and Cathy Harrison, DoH(NI) to all community pharmacies.

The letter provides updated information about PPE arrangements for community pharmacy and the process to be used by community pharmacy teams for the replenishment of PPE from 1st May 2020.

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

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COVID19 ContractorUpdate #82 RE: HSCB/DOH CORRESPONDENCE - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Update and Reordering Process

Dear colleague

Amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

CPNI has been working closely with DH and HSCB in respect of changes to misuse of drugs legislation being brought forward by the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which can be accessed via this link:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/62/regulation/9/made

These amendments were made on 29 April 2020 and further details are available in a letter from Canice Ward, Head of MRG, DH(NI) which can be accessed via this link:

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/mdr-amendments-010520.pdf

It is important to note that these changes do not come in immediately.  This will only happen when they are activated by an announcement from the Department.  CPNI will also inform contractors of any such activation.

Guidance to the amendments is currently being drafted and will be shared with contractors as soon as it is available.  CPNI training slides will also be made available.

Summary

The amendments introduce the following flexibilities:

Emergency Supply (ESS): Pharmacists will be permitted to supply controlled drugs in Schedule 2, 3 and 4 Part 1 provided the supply is in accordance with regulation 226 (emergency sales).

Serious Shortage Protocols (SSP): Pharmacists will be permitted to supply controlled drugs in Schedule 2, 3 and 4 Part 1 provided the supply is in accordance with a serious shortage protocol.

Instalment Prescribing: Pharmacists will be permitted to change the interval to be observed when supplying drugs in Schedules 2 and 3 via instalment prescriptions, provided the pharmacist who changes the interval is the pharmacist who makes the supply and changes the interval with the agreement of the initial prescriber or a member of the prescribing team who is authorised to agree to such changes.

Action

Contractors should:

  1. Familiarise themselves with the amendments and brief their dispensing teams as appropriate;
  2. Note that these amendments do not take immediate effect, but may be triggered by a letter from the Department; and
  3. Note any further guidance and training issued on these measures.

CPNI colleagues will continue to support contractors and their staff throughout the coming weeks.

Kind regards

Mike

Sent on behalf of Prof Mike Mawhinney | Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Colleague,

Furlough Guidance

In response to queries from Contractors around the Furlough Scheme introduced by the UK Government, as a mechanism to assist businesses claim for wages costs through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, CPNI sought additional guidance from our legal advisors to help Community Pharmacy owners to navigate eligibility or otherwise.

The guidance received from our legal advisors is contained in the attached document.

Further UK Government information on this particular scheme can be found at

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

Should you require any additional information about the scheme in relation to your community pharmacy business(es) your professional advisors, who will be familiar with the specifics circumstances that apply to your business(es), will be able to advise you further.

I trust this is helpful.

Yours sincerely

SENT FOR AND BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE | Chief Executive

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Dear Colleague

Updates from the Pharmaceutical Society NI

The Pharmaceutical Society NI (PSNI) has issued the following updates:

(a) Pre-registration training 2020-21

PSNI has confirmed that:

  • The training year for 2020-21 will begin on 01 July 2020;
  • The application process can be completed remotely and the closing date for the submission of application forms is 29 May 2020;
  • PSNI will correspond with all successful applicants about induction to the pre-registration programme for 2020-21 and is currently preparing to carry out induction remotely; and
  • As PSNI were unable to hold the April tutor accreditation event, they will be contacting those pharmacists who were registered to attend with details about plans to complete their accreditation. In the meantime, those pharmacists who have been planning to act as a pre-registration tutor for 2020-21 and have been unable to attain tutor accreditation, are asked to continue with plans to take on a trainee on dates agreed. Plans will be put in place to allow tutor accreditation to be completed for all relevant pharmacists prior to 01 July 2020. 

Full details can be accessed via the following link:

Application process to Register as a Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacist in 2020-21 now open

(b) Temporary Registration

This can be accessed via the following link:

Use of powers for temporary registration of persons

(c) Collection and Delivery Services

CPNI recently issued a letter in respect of the volunteer delivery service (attached).

PSNI has also issued a letter in respect of collection and delivery and this can be accessed via the following link:

https://www.psni.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Covid-19-Statement-on-Collection-and-Delivery-Services-09.04.20-1.pdf

Contractors are advised to contact their insurers in respect of any use of volunteers within the pharmacy.

Action

Contractors should:

  1. Familiarise themselves with the updates and take any appropriate actions

CPNI colleagues will continue to support contractors and their staff throughout the coming weeks.

Yours sincerely

Mike

Sent on behalf of Prof Mike Mawhinney | Head of Regulatory Affairs

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