Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor
SPPG have issued correspondence today providing an update on the Community Pharmacy Care Home Support Service (CPCHSS).

SUMMARY

Pharmacies previously signed up to the 2024/25 service

  • The service will continue in line with the service specification which requires each pharmacy to undertake two care home visits for each care home during the financial year.  A new contract is not required for 2025/26.
  • Please complete the MS forms proforma via this link by 30th May 2025 for each care home for which you are currently providing the service and the dates of the two visits undertaken during 2024/25.

New Pharmacies who wish to sign up to the 2025/26 service

  • For those pharmacies who have not signed up to the service during 24/25 but who now wish to participate in the 25/26 service, please return by email your completed contract (Appendix A) to your local office as soon as possible.
  • Please note all nursing and residential care homes for whom the service will be provided for by the community pharmacy should be listed on the contract.
  • A service agreement form (Appendix B) should be completed for every care home for which the pharmacy is providing the service.  A copy of the agreement form should be retained in the pharmacy.
  • Please read the service specification carefully and ensure that all relevant staff are trained and competent to deliver this service.
  • Previously recorded ECHO training sessions can be viewed by logging on to Project Echo Moodle site (log in required – then click on; My courses ‘collaborative community pharmacy 2023/24’ and the following video recordings; dated 30/11/21 and 22/11/22).

Change of care home contract

  • If a community pharmacy during the 2025/26 year no longer provides the routine dispensing service to a particular care home and had been contracted to provide the CPCHSS to that care home, please inform your local office as soon as possible, so that monthly payments for CPCHSS can be stopped.

Service monitoring and post payment verification

SPPG will continue to monitor and review this service. SPPG have introduced a process for partial recuperation of payments made to community pharmacists who are contracted to provide the service but have not completed the required visits in line with the service specification.

ACTION

  • Read the correspondence and accompanying documentation as needed.
  • 2024/25: Complete the MS forms link by 30th May 2025 for each care home for which you are currently providing the service and the dates of the two visits undertaken during 2024/25.
  • 2025/26: If you wish to participate in the 25/26 service, please return by email your completed contract (Appendix A) to your local office as soon as possible.
  • If a community pharmacy during the 2025/26 year no longer provides the routine dispensing service to a particular care home and had been contracted to provide the CPCHSS to that care home, please inform your local office as soon as possible, so that monthly payments for CPCHSS can be stopped.
  • Please ensure this information is shared with all relevant members of your pharmacy team.

If you have any queries in relation to this service, please contact Breege Brogan (Breege.Brogan@hscni.net) or Mary McIlvenna (Mary.McIlvenna@hscni.net).

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
SPPG has issued a reminder email regarding the Community Pharmacy Stop Smoking Service.

SUMMARY

  • The email includes a link to correspondence regarding a revised Stop Smoking contract.
  • SPPG has requested that contractors who provide the Stop Smoking service ensure they return the revised contract by 6pm on Friday 13 June 2025.
  • The contract is included as Appendix 1 to the SPPG letter and can be completed online using this link.
  • If a contractor does not currently provide the Stop Smoking Service but wishes to do so, they can contact the PHA for more information.
  • The service specification, quality standards, and other relevant information can be found on the BSO website.

ACTION

Contractors are asked to:

  • Review the SPPG reminder email and correspondence issued on 3 April 2025 regarding the Stop Smoking Service and share with all relevant members of the pharmacy team.
  • If not already completed, return a contract to SPPG as soon as possible.

If you have any queries in relation to this correspondence, please contact PHATobaccoAdmin@hscni.net.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor,
NICPLD issued correspondence to pharmacies involved in the 2024/2025 Experiential Learning (EL) programme, providing feedback on placements to date, and information regarding the 2025/2026 programme.

SUMMARY

Correspondence sent to EL providers includes:

  • A newsletter summarising the feedback received from students and practice supervisors to date.
  • Information on training for new practice supervisors and refresher training.
  • Details of the EL allocation timetable for 2025/2026 academic year (see below).
  • A request for providers to indicate their participation by completing the online form by Friday 6 June 2025.

Placement Timetable 25-26

Placement Block 1Placement Block 2Placement Block 3
29/09/2512/01/2616/02/26
13/10/2519/01/2623/02/26
17/11/2526/01/2602/03/26
24/11/2502/02/2609/03/26

ACTION

  • Contractors involved in the EL programme should review the NICPLD correspondence and newsletter, and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team.
  • Contractors wishing to provide EL placements in 2025/2026 should complete the online form by 6 June 2025.
  • Contractors, including those who have not previously been involved in the EL programme, can contact NICPLD EL Lead Helen Hirst, should they require further information.

Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact a member of the CPNI team.

Kind regards,

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The following concessionary price granted in May 2025 has rolled over to June 2025:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Fluticasone 400microgram/unit dose nasal drops 30£17.22

Concessionary prices will be paid against the usual code, no additional endorsements are needed.

Please continue to notify CPNI of any pricing issues you are experiencing via our Medicine Pricing/Supply Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
LIVING WELL CAMPAIGN SURVEY
**FOR THE ATTENTION OF LIVING WELL PHARMACIES ONLY**
Dear Contractor
Correspondence has been issued by SPPG on 02 June 2025 regarding the launch of the Living Well survey for the campaign ‘Be Cancer Aware’.

SUMMARY

  • The survey for the campaign ‘Be Cancer Aware’ is open and can be accessed here.
  • The survey must be completed by 6pm on 30 June 2025, please ensure to reach the final screen to confirm submission.

ACTION

  • Contractors are asked to review the SPPG correspondence issued on 02 June 2025 and share with all relevant members of the pharmacy team.

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.

CPNI ALERTS

DOH(NI) ALERTS

BSO ALERTS

MHRA UPDATE

Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme NI

Following the Health Minister’s announcement that the new Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme will commence on 2 June 2025, pharmacy teams can use the following factsheet to deal with queries and to signpost patients who may be looking to reclaim costs for eligible treatments received outside Northern Ireland through this scheme.

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