Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI issued correspondence (dated 5 June 2024) which includes an addendum to the previously issued HSS(MD) 51/2023 regarding full pack dispensing of Valproate Medicines.

SUMMARY

  • The Department of Health NI previously issued correspondence (HSS (MD) 51/2023) on 12 October 2023 to advise that the MHRA guidance on dispensing valproate-containing medicines should be considered by pharmacists in Northern Ireland as good practice.
  • The Department has, today, issued an addendum to advise that amendments to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (HMRs) to require manufacturer’s original full pack dispensing of valproate-containing medicines, came into operation in Northern Ireland on 4 June 2024.
  • MHRA guidance can be accessed here.
  • Note:  The MHRA guidance and the MHRA webpage may still refer to the guidance being considered as “good practice” in Northern Ireland.  However, the necessary legislative amendments have now been completed.
  • Additionally, the addendum contains important information on:
    • The background to the legislative changes
    • Information about valproate-containing medicines
    • Why the rules on dispensing valproate-containing medicines have been changed
    • Your role and responsibility as a pharmacist, under the new legislation
    • Exceptional circumstances
    • Reimbursement to community pharmacies for valproate containing medicines, including BSO information and information on Special Containers
    • Original Pack Dispensing (OPD)

Contractors should note that the addendum also provides information on an additional legislative change which enables pharmacists to increase or decrease a prescription by up to 10% (more than or less than) so that they can dispense a manufacturer’s original full pack instead of splitting a pack, known as Original Pack Dispensing (OPD). However, these changes are transitional and will require further amendments to the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations (NI) 1997 and engagement with community pharmacy as part of service provision.  Once OPD is in operation in Northern Ireland, a further communication will be provided.

ACTION

Contractors should:

  • Note the contents of the addendum letter and the guidance from the MHRA in respect of valproate-containing medicines, and bring this to the attention of their dispensing teams; and
  • Note that the additional legislative changes relating to OPD are transitional and require further amendments to the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations (NI) 1997 and engagement with community pharmacy as part of service provision. Once OPD is in operation in Northern Ireland, a further communication will be provided.

Should you have any queries in relation to these changes please contact a member of the CPNI team.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has today redetermined the concessionary prices for four products and confirmed three further concessionary prices for May 2024:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Ezetimibe 10mg tablets28£7.02 (previously £6.17)
Nicorandil 10mg tablets60£5.05
Nicorandil 20mg tablets60£9.30
Pregabalin 75mg capsules56£1.54
Quetiapine 100mg tablets60£3.25 (previously £2.27)
Quetiapine 150mg tablets60£5.20 (previously £3.10)
Quetiapine 200mg tablets60£5.49 (previously £5.20)

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
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence (dated 5 June 2024) in respect of the restrictions on use of puberty suppressing hormones (puberty blockers) introduced in Great Britain here.

The letter notes that these restrictions apply in Great Britain only and do not apply in Northern Ireland at this time.

Pharmacists in Northern Ireland providing pharmacy services to children and young people relating to gender incongruence or gender dysphoria should refer to guidance from the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland when making decisions about the supply of medicines in this context here.

Action

Contractors should:

  • Note the contents of the letter and the guidance from the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and bring this to the attention of their dispensing teams.

Regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Contractor

Contractors received a letter of notification from BSO that a one-off Adjusted Payment will be paid by BSO bank transfer to Contractors on Thursday 6th June 2024.

This adjusted payment relates to a correction for BSO paying your ordinary dispensing (OD) fees at £1.02 on 31st May 2024 instead of £1.16.

The adjusted payment relates to this specific OD underpayment and not to ‘Late Concessionary Price Adjustment payment February 2024’, as stated on the BSO letter.

CPNI is aware of on-going contractor concerns about BSO payments being insufficient to meet monthly medicine wholesaler obligations, with several contractors contacting the office this week with further concerns associated with the BSO payment made on 31st May 2024.

I would ask any contractor with any other concerns related to the BSO payment on 31st May 2024 to contact CPNI offices at your earliest convenience.

Thank-you.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
Correspondence has been issued by SPPG on 3rd June 2024 regarding the Living Well Campaign.

SUMMARY

  • The survey for the campaign ‘Cancer Screening Saves Lives’ opened on 3rd June 2024 and can be accessed here.
  • The survey will remain open until 6pm on 3rd July 2024.
  • The current campaign ‘MMR Vaccination’ began on 1st June 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 the 3rd June 2024 regarding the Living Well Service and share with relevant team members.
  • The survey for the campaign ‘Cancer Screening Saves Lives’ is now available and must be completed before 6pm on 3rd July 2024.
  • Online resources for the current campaign ‘MMR vaccination’ are available on the BSO website.

For any further information please contact CPNI offices.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
SPPG issued correspondence today for the attention of pharmacies using NIECR.

SUMMARY

  • The correspondence includes a link to an NIECR survey.
  • The survey consists of 7 questions and provides an opportunity for pharmacists to provide feedback on aspects such as the support provided for NIECR users, communication, the performance of the NIECR system, and any improvements that may be helpful.

ACTION

Contractors are asked to read the correspondence and where applicable, complete the survey by Tuesday 11 June 2024 at 5pm.

Should you have any queries a member of the CPNI team will be happy to assist you.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive