You will be aware of the announcement on Monday 31 March 2025 that community pharmacy contractual and funding arrangements have been agreed for 2024/25 and 2025/26 in England.
Further information on the English 2024/25 and 2025/26 contractual and funding arrangements is available here7(70%). The agreement reached is the result of negotiations between NHS (England), DHSC, and Community Pharmacy England (CPE) that began last year and concluded recently.
The economic report produced by IQVIA and Frontier Economics, that was used to provide the economic evidence in those negotiations is available
Whilst the agreement relates to English community pharmacy contractual and funding arrangements, CPNI has nonetheless written to the Health Minister, Mr Mike Nesbitt MLA reiterating the need for negotiations to take place between DoH(NI), SPPG and CPNI so that contractual and funding arrangements for community pharmacy services in Northern Ireland can be negotiated and agreed. The need to mitigate the impact of the imminent increases to Employer NIC and NMW/NLW costs in 2025/26 was also raised in the letter.
Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI offices should you require any additional information or clarification on the English announcement or in relation to community pharmacy funding matters in Northern Ireland.
CPNI issued contractor emails on 10 March 2025 and 24 March 2025 regarding a pilot to support community pharmacist access to Independent Prescriber (IP) training by providing funding for those who agree to act as a DPP. Information on the pilot is available here and on the NICPLD IP webpage.
A final information webinar will be held tomorrow (1 April 2025) 6.30-7.30pm.
SUMMARY
Community pharmacists who wish to apply for the NICPLD Independent Prescribing (IP) course can submit applications up to 15 April 2025.
To undertake IP training, community pharmacists must have a Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP).
In recognition of the difficulties faced by community pharmacists in securing a DPP, a pilot has now been launched in which funding of £1500 is available for up to 50 eligible DPPs who agree to support a community pharmacist.
NICPLD has indicated that a number of DPPs have come forward to indicate that they are willing to support a community pharmacist trainee.
The pilot funding will only be available for those commencing training in August 2025.
A final information webinar for prospective applicants or DPPs will be held tomorrow 1 April 2025 6.30-7.30pm with registration available here or by emailing nicpld-prescribing@qub.ac.uk.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to note the information provided above and share with relevant members of the team, including any community pharmacists considering IP training, and any existing community pharmacist IPs who may consider acting as a DPP under the support scheme.
Queries on the DPP support scheme can be sent to nicpld-prescribing@qub.ac.uk. Alternatively, please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI team or email Ennis.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
**FOR THE ATTENTION OF LIVING WELL PHARMACIES ONLY**
Dear Contractor
Correspondence has been issued by SPPG on 31 March 2025 regarding the launch of the Living Well survey for the campaign ‘Look after your mental health’.
SUMMARY
The survey for the campaign ‘Look after your mental health’ is open and can be accessed here.
The survey must be completed by 6pm on 28 April 2025, please ensure to reach the final screen to confirm submission.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to review the SPPG correspondence issued on 31 March 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
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