For the attention of those contractors who have applied to offer the Pharmacy First Sore Throat Service Winter 24/25
Dear Contractor
Correspondence has been issued 13 November 2024 regarding the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat.
SUMMARY
The Pharmacy First Sore Throat Service will launch on 1 December 2024 for two months initially.
Pharmacy contractors meeting the service specification are eligible to offer the service and must submit an electronic contract to notify SPPG of the intention to provide the service.
NB there is no requirement to return a signed copy of the contract.
Pharmacies that provided the pilot service last year should familiarise themselves with the revised service specification and guidance and must submit a new contract to provide the service for Winter 24/25.
Live training was provided at an ECHO session which has been recorded and is now available to view on the ECHO Moodle site for those unable to attend the live session.
For any issues with accessing the training please contact Elaine Kane at e.kane@hospiceuk.org or 02895582393
A copy of the presentation slides are available at the BSO website.
All resources in relation to the service including promotional material will be available on the BSO website. Service posters will be provided by SPPG and should be displayed in the pharmacy.
The fees payable to pharmacy contractors for this service are:
A one-off service set-up payment of £200 per pharmacy contractor
A consultation fee of £32 per consultation. This includes the cost of RADTs and other consumables.
The cost of the medicine supplied will be reimbursed on submission of prescriptions or pharmacy vouchers to BSO.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to read the correspondence issued by SPPG regarding the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat Winter 2024/25 and share with all relevant members of the team.
Those pharmacy contractors who have applied to offer the Pharmacy First Sore Throat Service are requested to return an electronic contract using the following link.
Please contact your Pharmacy Advisor if you have any queries regarding this letter.
CPNI issued a media statement (here) in response to the Autumn Budget announcement and the changes to E’er NIC and NMW/NLW arrangements from 2024/25.
Winter Preparedness Plan
On Wednesday 6th November 2024 the Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA released the DoH(NI) 2024/25 Winter Preparedness Plan. The full plan is available here, with the role of Community Pharmacy outlined on pages 8-12. The associated DoH(NI) press release and CPNI media statement are available here.
UK COVID-19 Inquiry and Community Pharmacy
Nick Kaye (Chair of the National Pharmacy Association) appeared at the UK COVID-19 Inquiry this week. The public hearing on the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Systems in the 4 Nations of the UK included questions from the Northern Ireland brief, on behalf of local families. The recording is available here with Mr. Kaye’s evidence session starting at 33’ 35”.
Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF Gerard Greene Chief Executive
This is a reminder that there is currently a pilot for out of pocket expenses on laryngectomy and tracheostomy products. The pilot has been extended for a further six months. CPNI would encourage contractors and their teams to submit claims for eligible products under this pilot.
Dear Contractor
Information regarding a pilot for out of pocket expenses for laryngectomy and tracheostomy products has been issued by BSO 25th January 2024.
SUMMARY
Laryngectomy and tracheostomy products are appliances included in Part III (f) of the NIDT.
Whilst these products are initiated in secondary care, the supply route is currently from community pharmacies via a HS21 issued by GP practices.
CPNI have highlighted to BSO that pharmacies are dispensing these products at considerable financial loss as currently out-of-pocket expenses cannot be claimed.
A pilot will run for 6 months initially (February to July 2024) which will allow out-of-pocket expenses to be claimed for these items. This pilot has been extended for a further 6 months.
ACTION
Contractors should read and review the correspondence issued 25th January 2024 by BSO.
During the pilot period, for any claims of out-of-pocket expenses for items in Part III (f) of NIDT, prescriptions should be submitted in the uncoded/part-coded bundle with the item diamonded.
The invoice for the item must be attached, and the serial number of the prescription should be endorsed on the attached invoice.
The prescription should be endorsed with the out-of-pocket claim, along with the endorsement Part III (f) pilot. An example of this is attached within the correspondence.
Prescriptions issued before February 2024 will not be included within the pilot even if submitted within the February 2024 prescription submission.
Please share this information with all relevant team members.
Any queries should be directed to mark.nelson@hscni.net or Edward.Ashby@hscni.net
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
FINAL REMINDER: Those wishing to provide the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat are asked to complete the online formbefore 5pm on 6th November 2024.
Submissions after the deadline will not be accepted.
Dear Contractor
CPNI is pleased to confirm that the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat Winter 2024/25 is being offered to all community pharmacies across the network.
CPNI welcomes the expansion of the Pharmacy First Service and the evaluation of last year’s pilot sore throat service demonstrates the importance of this clinical service within community pharmacy.
SPPG correspondence issued 28th October 2024 regarding the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat Winter 2024/25 can be viewed here.
SUMMARY
Following a successful evaluation of the pilot sore throat service last year, it has been confirmed that funding has been granted for a similar service this winter.
The service will be offered across the pharmacy network from 1st December 2024 for two months initially to patients aged 5 years and over.
Where assessment indicates that antibiotics are necessary, this can be provided by a Pharmacist Independent Prescriber or in line with the SPPG PGDs.
Mandatory training on service provision will be provided by SPPG at a live Echo session at 7.30pm on Tuesday 5th November 2024. Details on how to join this meeting are included within the correspondence.
The training will be recorded and available to view on the Echo Moodle site for those unable to attend the live session.
The fees payable to provide this service are as follows:
A one off service set-up fee of £200 per contractor.
A consultation fee of £32 per consultation (this includes the costs of RADTs and other consumables).
Reimbursement of the cost of medicines on submission of the prescription or pharmacy voucher to BSO.
Those pharmacies wishing to provide this service are to complete the form at the following linkbefore 5pm on 6th November 2024.
Submissions after the deadline will not be accepted.
Further information including contract completion will be provided in the coming days.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to read the correspondence issued by SPPG regarding the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat Winter 2024/25 and share with all relevant members of the team.
Those wishing to provide the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat are asked to complete the online formbefore 5pm on 6th November 2024.
Training will be provided by SPPG via Echo at 7.30pm on Tuesday 5th November 2024, those wishing to attend this meeting can access the link within the SPPG correspondence.
Please contact your Pharmacy Advisor if you have any queries regarding this letter.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
REMINDER: Mandatory training on service provision will be provided by SPPG at a live Echo session at 7.30pm on Tuesday 5th November 2024. Details on how to join this meeting are included within the following correspondence.
Dear Contractor
CPNI is pleased to confirm that the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat Winter 2024/25 is being offered to all community pharmacies across the network.
CPNI welcomes the expansion of the Pharmacy First Service and the evaluation of last year’s pilot sore throat service demonstrates the importance of this clinical service within community pharmacy.
SPPG correspondence issued 28th October 2024 regarding the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat Winter 2024/25 can be viewed here.
SUMMARY
Following a successful evaluation of the pilot sore throat service last year, it has been confirmed that funding has been granted for a similar service this winter.
The service will be offered across the pharmacy network from 1st December 2024 for two months initially to patients aged 5 years and over.
Where assessment indicates that antibiotics are necessary, this can be provided by a Pharmacist Independent Prescriber or in line with the SPPG PGDs.
Mandatory training on service provision will be provided by SPPG at a live Echo session at 7.30pm on Tuesday 5th November 2024. Details on how to join this meeting are included within the correspondence.
The training will be recorded and available to view on the Echo Moodle site for those unable to attend the live session.
The fees payable to provide this service are as follows:
A one off service set-up fee of £200 per contractor.
A consultation fee of £32 per consultation (this includes the costs of RADTs and other consumables).
Reimbursement of the cost of medicines on submission of the prescription or pharmacy voucher to BSO.
Those pharmacies wishing to provide this service are to complete the form at the following linkbefore 5pm on 6th November 2024.
Submissions after the deadline will not be accepted.
Further information including contract completion will be provided in the coming days.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to read the correspondence issued by SPPG regarding the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat Winter 2024/25 and share with all relevant members of the team.
Those wishing to provide the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat are asked to complete the online formbefore 5pm on 6th November 2024.
Training will be provided by SPPG via Echo at 7.30pm on Tuesday 5th November 2024, those wishing to attend this meeting can access the link within the SPPG correspondence.
Please contact your Pharmacy Advisor if you have any queries regarding this letter.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Reminder– Following the launch of the RPS/Marie Curie Daffodil Standards for Community Pharmacy Palliative Care, a short virtual training session is being provided on Wednesday 6 November 2024 at 1pm-1.30pm.
Dear Contractor
Community Pharmacists and their teams are invited to the launch of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)/ Marie Curie Daffodil Quality Improvement Standards for Community Pharmacy Palliative Care in Northern Ireland.
The standards have been formally endorsed by the Pharmacy Forum NI, supported by CPNI and SPPG, with input from Specialist Palliative Care Pharmacists.
The important role that community pharmacy teams play in improving the care of palliative patients is recognised, and the standards aim to help the whole pharmacy team build on the good care they already provide.
To hear more about the standards, and a clinical update on medicines use in end of life care, a short virtual meeting is being provided on Wednesday 6 November 2024 at 1pm-1.30pm.
Access to the training provided by the RPS lead and NI Specialist Palliative Care Pharmacists, is available via the following link:
This training is open to all community pharmacy staff members who engage with patients with palliative care needs or their carers.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
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
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
