SPPG issued this update earlier today relating to the global IT issues currently affecting some systems.
CPNI have been liaising with SPPG, PMR providers and wholesalers on the issue. At this stage community pharmacy PMR systems do not appear to be affected by the issue, however pharmacy teams may have to deal with the consequences of the IT outage on others e.g. affected GP practices etc.
Patients should be advised to order their repeat prescriptions in the normal way when their repeat prescriptions are due and if a GP practice is affected by the IT issue the practice will be able to advise patients accordingly.
CPNI have prepared a social media card that you may wish to use on your social media channels.
Community Pharmacies are reminded that they can provide an urgent supply of a patient’s regular prescription medicines (excluding Controlled Drugs Schedules 1,2&3) where they are unable to obtain a prescription.
SPPG have issued correspondence on 18th July regarding the Living Well Service.
SUMMARY
The ‘Live longer and stronger’ campaign is to begin on 1st August 2024.
Various resources will be provided and if these are not received by 31st July 2024, SPPG have asked community pharmacies to email reception.pha@hscni.net immediately and title the subject heading as ‘LIVING WELL PHARMACY CAMPAIGN’.
Replacement resources cannot be provided if not reported by 7th August 2024.
Social media posts released by PHA can be shared on social media channels to increase the reach of the campaign. Details of this schedule along with printable resources can be found here.
The campaign for ‘MMR vaccination’ will finish on 31st July 2024, and the survey will open on 5th August 2024 at 9am and will close 2nd September 2024 at 6pm.
When completing the required survey, please ensure to use the correct contractor number.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to read the correspondence issued by SPPG on 18th July 2024 regarding the Living Well Service and share with all relevant members of the team.
The next campaign ‘Live longer and stronger’ begins on 1st August 2024 and if resources are not received by 31st July 2024, email reception.pha@hscni.net immediately. Please ensure the email subject is titled ‘LIVING WELL PHARMACY CAMPAIGN’. Failure to report this by 7th August 2024 will result in no resources being provided.
The current campaign ‘MMR vaccination’ will finish on 31st July 2024 and the survey will run from 5th August 2024 until 2nd September 2024.
On completion of the survey, contractors are asked to take a picture of the confirmation text and/or tick the box to save a copy of your survey answers.
Any queries regarding the content of this letter can be directed to your local primary care office, or alternatively please contact a member of the CPNI team.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
DHNI has issued a letter (dated 17 July 2024) relating to the supply of medicines to paramedics.
Guidance is given on a range of matters including due diligence, supplying controlled drugs, wholesale dealing, labelling, supplying whole packs, and record keeping.
The letter also includes a number of useful links.
Action
Contractors are advised to:
Note the content of the letter and bring the matters to the attention of their dispensary teams.
If you have any concerns in relation to the registration of a paramedic or about the items being requisitioned, please contact an inspector (mrg_inspectors@health-ni.gov.uk) before making any medicine supplies.
CPNI colleagues are also available for advice.
Regards
Mike
SENT ON BEHALF OF PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY Head of Regulatory Affairs
This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.
For the attention of pharmacies providing the Lateral Flow Device Distribution Service: The service specification has been updated by SPPG and can be accessed here. Please review this update and share with all relevant team members.
REMINDER Community Pharmacy Assurance Framework (CPAF) SPPG issued correspondence on 9th November 2023 to inform contractors that visits will be restarting as part of CPAF. Pharmacies which have never received a visit as part of CPAF will be prioritised. If your pharmacy is selected for a visit you will be contacted by your local office to make the necessary arrangements. Any queries in relation to the visit process can be directed to your Pharmacy Adviser or to the CPNI team.
REMINDER Pharmacy First Service for UTI Pharmacies that are contracted to provide the Pharmacy First Service for UTI are asked to encourage patients to complete the feedback survey. A QR code is included in previous SPPG correspondence, or the patient can be directed to the MS forms using the following link.
Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF Gerard Greene Chief Executive
Dear Contractor,
I write to provide a brief update in relation to our on-going engagement with Department of Health officials and the new Health Minister, Mr. Mike Nesbitt MLA and to confirm that CPNI will meet Mr. Nesbitt on 21st August 2024 to discuss various community pharmacy matters and current difficulties.
CPNI also continues to engage with Department Officials in relation to opportunities for addition investment being allocated to the community pharmacy sector in 2024/25. While it appears that funding was not allocated to community pharmacy through the June Monitoring Round, CPNI has since followed up by asking that the sector be factored into any funding allocations released to Northern Ireland, and consequently health, as a result of Labour forming the new Government in Westminster after last week’s General Election.
CPNI is aware of the continuing funding, workforce and workload difficulties in the sector and we continue to input and seek resolution through a number of fora and groups to the wide range of issues faced by Contractors and their teams.
We continue to be notified by contractors that BSO prescription payments have fluctuated significantly in recent months; it is important that you notify CPNI offices if you have any concerns in relation to variations between the actual BSO payment(s) and your anticipated BSO payment(s) in any given month.
CPNI welcomes the opportunity to meet with the new Health Minister on 21st August 2024 and an update on that meeting will be provided in due course.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact CPNI offices should you require any additional information at any stage.
Yours sincerely,
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
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