Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF Gerard Greene Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
NICPLD issued correspondence on 6 August 2025 seeking expressions of interest from pharmacists to join a newly formed FTY Stakeholder Committee.
SUMMARY
Information on the role of the FTY Stakeholder Committee and the criteria for membership is included in the NICPLD correspondence.
NICPLD has advised that the expression of interest form will now remain open until 12 noon, Wednesday 20 August 2025.
NICPLD has received a number of responses to date and would particularly encourage pharmacists from independent pharmacy FTY providers to come forward to ensure balanced representation.
ACTION
Contractors should read the NICPLD correspondence and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team.
Queries regarding FTY or the Stakeholder Committee can be directed to NICPLD.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.
The social media schedule for the new Living Well campaign – ‘Move more, feel better’ is available here.
This campaign runs from 1st August – 30th September 2025 and community pharmacies may wish to share the campaign messages on their social media platforms.
NICPLD FTY Stakeholder Committee
NICPLD is seeking expressions of interest from pharmacists to join a newly established FTY Stakeholder Committee. The committee will support NICPLD in the quality management of the FTY programme, including review of policies and procedures, and ensuring the programme continues to meet the Standards for the initial education and training of pharmacists (2021). NICPD is seeking representatives from community pharmacy FTY providers to join the committee, as well as early career pharmacists, educational supervisors (ES) and designated prescribing practitioners (DPP).
Further information is available here, and those who would like to express an interest are asked to complete the online form by no later than Wednesday 13th August at 12 noon.
Fully Funded Training for Community Pharmacy Support Staff
Horizon Global Skills has advised CPNI that they are seeking applications for an upcoming fully funded Pharmacy Services Upskilling Academy. The course will commence in September 2025 and successful participants will be awarded a Level 2 Diploma in the Principles and Practise for Pharmacy Support Staff. The costs of the training will be funded via a Department for Economy initiative, and employers will receive £558 for each employee who successfully completes the training.
A brochure with further details is available here. And further information can be obtained by emailing catherine@ghskills.com.
Research Participation
CPNI has been contacted by a team in Robert Gordon University regarding research they are undertaking on how pharmacy services can better support people before pregnancy (preconception care). They are inviting pharmacy team members to participate in a Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) panel.
The PPI panel will be informal, flexible, and online, with no prior research experience required. Further information is available here, and those who wish to participate can sign up here.
The guidance recommends that patients whose asthma is poorly controlled should be considered for a switch to a maintenance and reliever (MART) inhaler/treatment regime.
SPPG has produced a guidance document summarising the recommendations that apply to patients aged over 12 years.
Community pharmacists are asked to use requests for emergency supplies of SABA inhalers as an opportunity to provide patients with advice.
Further details of actions for community pharmacists are outlined in the SPPG letter.
ACTION
Contractors should read the SPPG correspondence and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team.
Queries regarding the emergency supply service can be raised with your local SPPG pharmacy adviser. Contact details are available here.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
SPPG has issued an update dated 05 August 2025 regarding the community pharmacy vaccination service.
SUMMARY
1. End of Spring 2025 Covid-19 Vaccination Campaign
SPPG and PHA teams extend their thanks to participating community pharmacies for their hard work throughout the duration of the Spring 2025 COVID-19 campaign.
2. Seasonal Influenza Vaccination 2025/2026 and Autumn 2025 COVID-19 Community Pharmacy Vaccination Services
The CMO Letters for the Autumn/Winter 2025/2026 Seasonal Flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes have been published.
Operational arrangements are being confirmed with PHA.
SPPG will send a further notification in the coming weeks when service documentation and arrangements are finalised. This will be shared well in advance of the proposed start date of early October.
3. VMS Access: Action Required before Autumn/Winter 2025/2026 CPVS
BSO are in the process of updating the Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for VMS.
All pharmacies who access VMS are required to set up new MFA.
Access to VMS via the current MFA method will be switched off on the 6th August 2025.
Contracts for the autumn/winter service cannot be accepted until the updated VMS set up process has been completed.
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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