Archives: Contractor Email

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.

You may be aware of some media attention over the weekend in respect of medicines availability following the proposed introduction of the Windsor Framework measures. These meetings will offer the opportunity to get clarification from Department and MHRA officials on this.

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

Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence dated 18 October 2024 extending the expiry date of SSP074, relating to isosorbide mononitrate preparation Monomax XL 60mg tablets, to Friday 15 November 2024.

BACKGROUND

  • SSPs made under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 are an additional tool to manage and mitigate medicines shortages.
  • SSPs enable community pharmacists to supply specified medicines in accordance with a protocol rather than a prescription, without needing to seek authorisation from the prescriber – saving time for patients, pharmacists and prescribers.
  • Pharmacists should refer to the latest versions of the existing SSPs which are now available on the Business Services Organisation dedicated page on its website HERE.
  • Operational guidance on the implementation of SSPs in Northern Ireland can be found on the BSO website HERE.

ACTION

Contractors should:

  • Review the letter dated 18 October 2024 here, and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of the specific details relating to this SSP;
  • Note guidance relating to the decision pathways for SSPs; notification of GPs; the need for patient/carer agreement, and action to take when this is not given; professional judgement; and actions regarding unclear quantities.

Contractors should contact their local SPPG office in the first instance should further information be required. CPNI colleagues are also available for assistance.

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.

CPNI ALERTS

DOH(NI) ALERTS

BSO ALERTS

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 Shortage 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
For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Autumn 2024 COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service
Dear Colleague
SPPG have issued correspondence providing an update in relation to the Autumn 2024 COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza vaccination programme.

SUMMARY

Eligible Cohorts
SPPG have highlighted the differences between the eligible cohorts for Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations

Cohort      COVID-19               Flu
CarersNoYes
Household contacts of
immunosuppressed		NoYes

Fluad Tetra Packaging

  • The packaging for the Fluad Tetra Flu vaccine contains a note on the box ’50 years and older’. Please ensure to only vaccinate those aged 65 years and over.

Minimising Vaccine Wastage

  • To minimise waste, PHA have requested vaccination providers to adhere to the following:
    • Arrange cluster appointments
    • Only give single vaccinations from multidose vials in exceptional circumstances.
    • Order vaccine quantities that will not exceed two week’s activity. Please note: Comirnaty 1 box is equivalent to 10 vials (60 doses).
    • Refer to the SPPG guidance on minimisation of vaccine wastage.

Vaccine Product

  • The only vaccine authorised for use in the Autumn COVID-19 CPVS is Comirnaty® JN.1 (30mcg/dose) dispersion for injection. Please note the adult dose in 0.3ml.

VMS

  • A VMS update on 15 October 2024 has implemented the following changes:
    • Reinstated the clinical question on myocarditis and pericarditis in the co-administration flow.
    • Facility to edit expiry date for the thawed COVID vaccine regardless of the order of data entry.
    • Facility to display the location name on the warning message when previous vaccination was re-booked.

If these updates cannot be seen, SPPG advise to perform a cache clearing refresh in the web browser.

  • VMS writeback to GP clinical systems:
    • PHA are aware of an IT issue preventing the record being copied from VMS into Emis GP system.
    • GP practices have been asked to check VMS for current vaccination status of patients while this is being resolved as soon as possible.

ACTION

Contractors providing the service should:

Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office should you require any further information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
Reminder- Correspondence has been issued by the Pharmacy Forum 8 October 2024 to invite pharmacists to attend the 99th AGM of the Pharmaceutical Society NI.
The annual general meeting will be a hybrid event hosted at Society House, 73 University Street, Belfast on Thursday 17 October 2024 7.15pm-9.15pm

Attendees have the option of attending in-person or online, and can register for the event here.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The first update of concessionary prices were granted today for October 2024:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Cefalexin 500mg capsules21£2.67
Chloramphenicol 0.5% eye drops10£2.90
Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension70£8.48
Clomipramine 50mg capsules28£7.93
Escitalopram 10mg tablets28£1.65
Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free100£5.63
Ketoconazole 2% shampoo120£24.00
Levetiracetam 500mg tablets60£5.50
Memantine 10mg/ml oral solution sugar free50£27.97
Metformin 500mg modified-release tablets56£2.93
Metformin 500mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£22.45
Methylphenidate 54mg modified-release tablets30£73.62
Metronidazole 0.75% cream40£12.35
Mometasone 0.1% ointment30£3.39
Nefopam 30mg tablets90£3.89
Nortriptyline 10mg tablets100£4.54
Olanzapine 10mg tablets28£4.27
Olanzapine 15mg tablets28£3.74
Olanzapine 2.5mg tablets28£1.40
Olanzapine 5mg tablets28£2.54
Olanzapine 7.5mg tablets28£1.29
Ondansetron 8mg tablets10£3.37
Pregabalin 150mg capsules56£2.65
Pregabalin 200mg capsules84£4.30
Pregabalin 50mg capsules84£11.93
Quetiapine 100mg tablets60£12.39
Quetiapine 150mg tablets60£15.50
Quetiapine 25mg tablets60£3.02
Quetiapine 300mg tablets60£13.24
Rizatriptan 10mg tablets3£8.15
Ropinirole 500microgram tablets28£12.37
Sodium cromoglicate 2% eye drops13.5£3.14
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment30£25.92
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment60£47.28

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