Archives: Contractor Email

This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.

CPNI ALERTS

DOH(NI) ALERTS

BSO ALERTS

Research Participation

CPNI has been contacted by a researcher in Robert Gordon University regarding a study on the role played by community pharmacy teams in pre-pregnancy healthcare.  They are inviting all pharmacy team members to participate in a survey which explores the experiences and future opportunities for community pharmacy teams in providing support to people who are preparing for pregnancy.  Further information is available in the flyer and the survey can be accessed here: Pharmacy team perspectives on delivering pre-pregnancy health services in community pharmacies

Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s Contractor Calendar and Contractor Emails.

Or report medicine shortages, pricing and staffing issues via CPNI’s Medicine Pricing/Supply Reporter and Situation Reporter.

Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
Gerard Greene
Chief Executive
Reminder –  MOIC Evaluation of the Community Pharmacy Stop Smoking Service
*** Surveys will close on 31 March 2026 ***
*** Please encourage any relevant clients to complete the service user survey ***
Dear Contractor,
SPPG issued correspondence dated 12 January 2026 regarding the evaluation of the Community Pharmacy Stop Smoking Service.  The correspondence relates to all community pharmacy contractors, including both those who provide the stop smoking service, and those who do not.

SUMMARY

Pharmacy Team Survey

  • The evaluation has now commenced and the following surveys are open:
    • The survey for community pharmacies involved in providing the Stop Smoking service is available here.
    • The survey for community pharmacies who are not involved in providing the Stop Smoking service is available here.
  • All members of the pharmacy team who either assist in the provision of the service or were involved in the decision not to provide the service are encouraged to complete the relevant survey. 
  • Views provided by pharmacy teams will be essential to the evaluation process and the future commissioning and development of the Stop Smoking service.

Service User Survey

  • Materials for the service user surveys will have arrived in pharmacies at this point, and pharmacies may wish to use these to encourage relevant clients to participate.

ACTION

Contractors should note the SPPG correspondence and the overview letter, and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team.

Should contractors have queries about the Stop Smoking service they may contact their local SPPG primacy care office or email the PHA tobacco control team: PHATobaccoAdmin@hscni.net.

Kind regards,

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
Community pharmacies employing an FTY trainee for the second half of the 2025/2026 FTY training year, will have welcomed their trainee in February 2026.

CPNI is mindful that the FTY 2025/2026 programme differs from previous years and as such we have highlighted some important information below regarding access to information, support for trainees, and reporting concerns to NICPLD.  Employers are encouraged to report and record concerns at the earliest opportunity.

SUMMARY

General Information on the FTY Programme:

  • Information on the FTY 2025/2026 programme is available on the NICPLD website.
  • Resources include:

Access to FTY Procedures and the FTY Hub:

  • Educational Supervisors have access to additional information relating to the FTY programme and their FTY trainee, through the FTY hub.
  • Following CPNI’s requests for community pharmacy employers to have access to the FTY hub, NICPLD has confirmed that access will not be provided to employers involved in the 2025/2026 programme.
  • CPNI has asked NICPLD to provide community pharmacy employers with clarity regarding the FTY programme SOPs, such as:
    • Dealing with concerns
    • Addressing concerns regarding supervisors
    • Bullying, harassment or discrimination
    • Complaints procedure
    • Exceptional circumstances
    • Fitness to practice
    • Trainees requiring additional support
  • CPNI understands that NICPLD has not yet provided access to the FTY SOPs to all community pharmacy employers.
  • Should FTY employers have queries regarding FTY procedures, they may wish to email nicpld-fty@qub.ac.uk for further information.

FTY Support:

  • Each FTY trainee has a designated NICPLD FTY Lead. 
  • FTY Leads can be contacted at anytime by the trainee, employer or supervisor:
  • Employers and supervisors can also speak to FTY Leads by:
    • Attending the weekly FTY drop-in clinic (Joining details available by emailing nicpld-fty@qub.ac.uk)
    • Attending the quarterly support calls between the trainee and the FTY Lead.
  • Trainee’s requiring wellbeing support should be signposted to their NICPLD FTY Lead.
  • Further wellbeing supports are available through:

FTY Provider Support:

  • CPNI has developed a welcome letter which FTY providers involved in the second six months of the FTY programme may wish to share with their trainee. 
  • A copy of the letter is available here.

Reporting FTY Concerns:

  • NICPLD has advised that where an Educational Supervisor has a concern regarding a trainee, this should be reported at the earliest opportunity using the ‘Reporting a concern’ tab on the FTY hub.
    • Once a concern is raised, the FTY team will follow the “Dealing with concerns pathway”.
  • NOTE: As FTY employers do not have access to the FTY hub, they will not be able to access the ‘Reporting a concern’ tab, and therefore they may wish to seek advice on the appropriate procedure from NICPLD.
  • Supervisors and employers may wish to request a record of any correspondence, directions or advice provided to them by the NICPLD team regarding the FTY trainee.

COMPLAINTS

  • Should a contractor, trainee or supervisor wish to raise a complaint regarding NICPLD or the FTY programme they can submit their complaint in writing to nicpld@qub.ac.uk

ACTION

  • Contractors participating in the FTY 2025/2026 programme may wish to note the information above and share with Educational Supervisors and other relevant members of the pharmacy team.

Should contractors have queries regarding FTY they can contact NICPLD, or if they wish to speak to a member of the CPNI team they can contact Ennis.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
NICPLD has issued email correspondence to the Responsible Individuals (RI) for pharmacy contractors involved in FTY 2026/2027, asking them to complete the FTY provider declarations by 15 April 2026.

Contractor Considerations

  • Information for FTY providers is available on the NICPLD website including:
  • Note: Contractors may find it helpful to have further information prior to completing the declarations, such as:
    • Confirmation of the training requirements for Educational Supervisors.
    • Access to FTY SOPs relevant to the FTY programme, such as the handling concerns pathway. 
  • NICPLD has indicated that the ES training requirements will be confirmed by the end of March.  
  • Should contractors have queries regarding other aspects of the FTY programme such as SOPs, these can be addressed by contacting the NICPLD FTY team:

ACTION

Contractors involved in FTY 2026/2027 should review the information above, and liaise with the nominated Responsible Individual, Educational Supervisor(s) and any other relevant members of the pharmacy team regarding the declarations. 

Should you wish to speak to a member of the CPNI team regarding FTY, please email Ennis.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
NICPLD issued correspondence regarding the FTY 2027/2028 expression of interest opt-in process which opened on 9 March 2026 and will close on 30 March 2026.

SUMMARY

  • The FTY 2026/2027 expression of interest opt-in information is available here.
  • If a pharmacy opts-in they will be invited, via an email to their nominated Responsible Individual (RI), to advertise their training placement(s) on the NICPLD Training Provider Information Portal (TPIP). 
  • When a pharmacy “opts-in”, their status is visible to others who access the list as the pharmacy name remains on the list but becomes locked.

IMPORTANT CONTRACTOR CONSIDERATIONS

  • Contractors should be aware that a number of important aspects of the FTY 2027/2028 programme have not been finalised by NICPLD and/or have not been made available to contractors at this point.  These include:
    • The 2027/2028 FTY Framework (an interim framework is available but subject to change)
    • The 2027/2028 Curriculum (the current curriculum is under review)
    • The FTY salary in the hospital and community pharmacy placements
    • The FTY training grant
    • The FTY programme SOPs
  • CPNI and other stakeholders put forward a range of suggestions to the Department in October 2025 regarding the future of the FTY programme. 
  • CPNI suggestions included remodelling to provide 9 months in community pharmacy and 3 months in hospital, as well as re-introducing 12-month community pharmacy placements where prescribing supervision can be provided by an IP community pharmacist.
  • During a meeting of the Department’s Initial Education and Training Reform Short Life Working Group on 19 March 2026, the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer confirmed that the current 6-month split sector FTY training model will remain in place for 2027/2028.

ACTION

  • Contractors considering participation in FTY 2027/2028 should review the information provided to date, and note the significant aspects which are yet to be confirmed and therefore subject to change.
  • Contractors who decide to opt-in should do so prior to Monday 30 March 2026.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI team or email Ennis.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Contractor,

There have been a number of communications issued by SPPG and CPNI over recent times regarding key aspects that directly impact community pharmacies.  We understand there are often queries on these aspects and have therefore collated relevant information into one email for ease of reference.

  1. 28th October 2024 and 15th January 2026 – Maintaining Medicine Supplies to Patients: covers prescription interval and prescription ordering.
  2. 26th January 2024 and 18th September 2025 (letter to community pharmacies and letter to GP practices) – Adherence Support: addresses common queries regarding adherence support.
  3. 15th December 2025 – Emergency Supply of Medicines at Request of a Prescriber: covers the regulatory requirements for Emergency Supply at the request of a prescriber and addresses some governance considerations related to the transfer of prescription images.

Please share these documents with relevant members of your pharmacy team.

We hope this is helpful.

Kind regards,

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive