Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF Gerard Greene Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
CPNI has received notification that The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence dated 15 December 2023 in relation to a serious shortage protocol (SSP) in place for clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension (SSP053), extending the expiry date until Friday 12 January 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.
Operational guidance on the implementation of SSPs in Northern Ireland can be found on the BSO website.
ACTION
Contractors should:
Review the letter dated 15 December 2023 and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of this update.
Note that the expiry date of the existing SSP for clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension (SSP053), has been extended to Friday 12 January 2024.
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
For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Seasonal Influenza Community Pharmacy Vaccine Service
Dear Contractor
CPVS Update nine issued on 14 December relating to the vaccination service.
SUMMARY
Influenza Vaccination for High-Risk Avian Animal Workers
High-risk avian animal workers (those undertaking bird culling or cleaning at confirmed avian influenza outbreak premises or handling live birds which are unwell) have been added to the list of eligible cohorts for the Flu CPVS.
Please see the CMO letter issued 1st December 2023 linked here and the updated Green Book chapter linked here for more information.
The Influenza PGD has also been updated to include this change and is available on both the PCI and BSO websites.
VMS has been updated to include the option of ‘Bird Culler’ when selecting patient risk category.
ACTION
Contractors should review the CPVS update and share the information with relevant members of the pharmacy team.
Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI for any further information.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
CPNI wishes to bring to your attention some recently updated information on the NICPLD website regarding the process for applying for the Independent Prescribing (IP) course in 2024.
SUMMARY
Contractors will be aware that planned reforms to the initial education and training of pharmacy students in Northern Ireland will mean pharmacists joining the register from 2026 onwards will be annotated as Independent Prescribers (IPs).
Those pharmacists already on the register or joining the register prior to 2026 may become IPs by successfully completing a recognised IP training course such as that provided by NICPLD.
Changes were introduced to the IP application criteria in January 2023 which mean applicants are no longer required to have been practising for at least two years post registration, or to produce evidence of clinical and therapeutic experience in their intended prescribing area.
To reflect these changes the course application forms were updated in 2023.
It is now planned that the application process will move online for the next IP training course starting Aug/Sept 2024 (Cohort 18).
The application forms and online portal are currently being finalised by NICPLD and the portal will be open for submissions from 22 January 2024 to Monday 26 February 2024.
An application submission will not be considered complete until all elements have been received by NICPLD.
A recorded lecture explaining how to use the portal will be available from 17 January 2024.
Whilst the process is online and the application forms will look different, similar information will be requested, therefore the forms on the NICPLD website can act as a guide until the online portal is ready.
Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis (assuming all criteria are fulfilled).
CPNI has received notification that The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence dated 8 December 2023 in relation to a serious shortage protocol (SSP) in place for clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension (SSP053), extending the expiry date until Friday 15 December 2023.
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.
Operational guidance on the implementation of SSPs in Northern Ireland can be found on the BSO website.
ACTION
Contractors should:
Review the letter dated 8 December 2023 and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of this update.
Note that the expiry date of the existing SSP for clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension (SSP053), has been extended to Friday 15 December 2023.
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
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