Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague

The following concessionary prices granted in September 2024 have rolled over to October 2024:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Carbimazole 5mg tablets100£1.98
Hydroxocobalamin 1mg/1ml solution
for injection ampoules		5£11.75
Propantheline bromide 15mg tablets112£103.50
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 Shortage Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Autumn 2024 COVID-19 Community Pharmacy Vaccine Service
Dear Colleague

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
**FOR THE ATTENTION OF PHARMACY COLLECT NI (LFD DISTRIBUTION) PHARMACIES ONLY**
Dear Contractor
In July 2024, correspondence was issued by SPPG providing an update on new LFD stock to be used in the Pharmacy Collect NI service.
Further correspondence has since been issued by SPPG on 2nd October 2024 highlighting a number of points which have arisen following recent post payment checks by BSO.

SUMMARY

  • Regarding the supply of LFD tests, contractors are reminded to supply:
    • 3 Hotgen sachets per transaction for non-care home residents.
    • 20 Hotgen sachets per transaction for care home requests.
  • Payment of the service is £1.50 per transaction rather than per test supplied. The current specification requires either 3 or 20 tests to be supplied per transaction.
  • Contractors are reminded to submit the eform to BSO once weekly on a Monday detailing the number of transactions carried out on the preceding 7 days.
  • Contractors should keep a record of the number of transactions completed for verification against BSO payments.
  • Details of the LFD distribution can be found in the service specification on the BSO website, and all staff involved in LFD distribution should be fully trained of the current processes and any updates received by SPPG.

ACTION

  • Contractors are requested to review the correspondence issued by SPPG regarding the Pharmacy Collect NI LFD Distribution Service and share with all relevant members of the team.
  • Queries regarding the LFD distribution can be directed to local primary care offices.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear colleague,

Do you have a story to share about the value of Community Pharmacy?

If so, we’d like to hear from you.

We are gathering a bank of PR stories to show the benefit and value of community pharmacy to local communities, demonstrating ways in which the network provides access to high quality healthcare expertise and advice close to home, without the need for an appointment.

This might be a specific service (e.g. Pharmacy First, Emergency Supply, vaccinations), or a health intervention that you or one of your team made in an emergency/non-emergency type situation.

One previous example was on noticing a change in a patient’s behaviour, and after discussing this with the patient, their community pharmacist signposted them onto the relevant health professional, subsequently the patient received a dementia diagnosis. The patient was extremely thankful that they were able to access specialist care at an early stage and went on to acknowledge just how important the pharmacist’s intervention was during a radio show featuring dementia.

If you have some examples no matter how minor you may feel they are, please complete this form and return to judea@communitypharmacyni.co.uk or if you would like to discuss some potential examples, please do get in touch.

Thank you in advance.

Kind regards,

Jude

SENT ON BEHALF OF
JUDE AUSTIN 
Communications Manager

Dear Contractor
In response to the interest shown in the three upcoming workshops aimed at outlining the outworkings of the Windsor Framework and the implications for community pharmacy here, NICPLD has increased the number of spaces available.

Contractors are urged to ensure that appropriate member(s) of their dispensary teams attend one of these sessions which will also include discussions on supply against EEA prescriptions and the movement of medicines to and from Northern Ireland.

Background

The implementation of the Windsor Framework (WF) from 1 January 2025 will have implications for the medicines supply chain across the United Kingdom and in Northern Ireland in particular. The outworkings of the Framework will introduce new packaging and licensing arrangements for medicines placed on the Northern Ireland market and will have implications for the Falsified Medicines Directive.

NICPLD has arranged three workshops for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to be hosted by a range of experts in the field of medicines regulation.

Details

Workshops are offered as follows:

  • 22nd October 2024, Riddel Hall, Belfast
  • 23rd October 2024, City Hotel, Armagh
  • 24th October 2024, City Hotel, Derry/Londonderry

Register now at NICPLD: Workshops

Speakers

  • Canice Ward: Head of Medicines Regulatory Group, Department of Health
  • Sean Curley: Principal Pharmaceutical Officer, Department of Health
  • Catherine Lenihan: Head of Regulatory Reform, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
  • Fionn Craig: Deputy Director of EU Regulations, Devolution and the Union, Department of Health and Social Care
  • Noah Thorold: Northern Ireland, Gibraltar and Crown Dependencies Policy, Department of Health and Social Care
  • Maria Jones: Policy Lead on Medicines Regulatory Policy Northern Ireland – Windsor Framework, Department of Health and Social Care

Aim

To enable pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to understand the implications the Windsor Framework Agreement will have on medicines and the pharmacy sector from 1 January 2025.

Learning Outcomes

Having attended this workshop, you will be able to understand:

  • The new packaging and licensing arrangements for medicines placed on the Northern Ireland market from 1 January 2025
  • The implication of the Windsor Framework Agreement on the EU Falsified Medicines Directive
  • The supply of medicines using prescriptions from EEA prescribers from NI pharmacies
  • Changes to the supply of medicines to and from NI from 1 January 2025
  • How to raise potential concerns about any future EU legislation that may have an impact on pharmacy and medicine supplies in NI.

Summary

It is important that contractors and their teams are prepared for the implementation of the Windsor Framework on 1 January 2025, and contractors are asked to:

  • Note the workshops being offered
  • Try to ensure that appropriate member(s) from their dispensary teams attend one of these sessions.

CPNI colleagues are available to discuss any aspects of the new arrangements. Any questions relating to the venues should be directed to the NICPLD team.

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

LIVING WELL PHARMACIES ONLY: SURVEY LAUNCH DATE
**FAO LIVING WELL PHARMACIES ONLY**
Dear Contractor
Correspondence has been issued by SPPG on 1st October 2024 regarding the Living Well Campaign.

SUMMARY

  • The survey for the campaign ‘Live longer and stronger’ has opened on 30th September 2024 and can be accessed here.
  • The survey will remain open until 6pm on 28th October 2024.
  • The current campaign ‘Sexual Health’ began on 1st October 2024 and online resources for this campaign can be found on the BSO website.

ACTION

  • Contractors are asked to review the correspondence issued by SPPG on 1st October 2024 regarding the Living Well Service and share with relevant team members.
  • The survey for the campaign ‘Sexual Health’ is now available and must be completed before 6pm on Monday 28th October 2024.

For any further information please contact CPNI offices.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive