Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor

DHNI has issued a letter dated 29 December 2023 detailing amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 which came into effect on 31 December 2023.

The amendments enable the prescribing and administration of specified controlled drugs by (a) paramedic independent prescribers and by (b) therapeutic radiographer independent prescribers.  The amendments also correct an inconsistency in the legislation which now allows specified registered podiatrists to supply specified controlled drugs.

Contractors should:

• Read the attached letter and make sure their dispensing teams are aware of the amendments;
• Note the professional guidance issued by the Royal College of Podiatry; and
• Note the guidance from MHRA on wholesale dealing.

Queries on these amendments should be directed to Aaron McKendry (02890 528628) aaron.mckendry@health-ni.gov.uk or Michelle Keatings (02890 520230) michelle.keatings@health-ni.gov.uk.

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Colleague

It has been confirmed that the 3rd concessionary price update below that was granted on 22nd December will be the final update for the month. There will be no further price concessions to announce for the month of December.

Drug	Pack Size	Concessionary Price
Aripiprazole 10mg tablets	28	£16.65
Aripiprazole 15mg tablets	28	£16.77
Benzoyl peroxide 5% / Clindamycin 1% gel	30	£11.90
Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension	70	£5.80
Co-amoxiclav 250mg/62mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	100	£1.99
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg capsules	100	£5.42
Donepezil 5mg tablets	28	£1.50
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops	5	£4.17
Duloxetine 20mg gastro-resistant capsules	28	£7.04
Eplerenone 25mg tablets	28	£6.43
Esomeprazole 40mg gastro-resistant capsules	28	£2.45
Estradiol 10microgram pessaries	24	£9.45
Etoricoxib 30mg tablets	28	£3.04
Ezetimibe 10mg tablets	28	£9.44
Frovatriptan 2.5mg tablets	6	£10.92
Hydrocortisone 10mg tablets	30	£2.13
Lorazepam 500microgram tablets	28	£21.48
Mercaptopurine 50mg tablets	25	£8.77
Metoclopramide 10mg tablets	28	£2.19
Metoprolol 50mg tablets	28	£2.75
Mometasone 50micrograms/dose nasal spray	140	£4.79
Morphine sulfate 10mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules	10	£4.70
Mycophenolate mofetil 500mg tablets	50	£6.47
Ondansetron 4mg tablets	10	£3.14
Paracetamol 500mg effervescent tablets	100	£8.26
Primidone 250mg tablets	100	£86.65
Prochlorperazine 3mg buccal tablets	50	£8.67
Quinine sulfate 300mg tablets	28	£3.95
Rizatriptan 10mg orodispersible tablets sugar free	3	£8.11
Ropinirole 500microgram tablets	28	£15.75
Rosuvastatin 20mg tablets	28	£1.92
Sodium chloride 0.9% nebuliser liquid 2.5ml unit dose ampoules	20	£9.50
Sodium cromoglicate 2% eye drops	13.5	£2.35
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment	30	£19.16
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment	60	£38.32

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

This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.

CPNI ALERTS

• Third Concessionary Prices – December 2023 22 December 2023
• CPNI Survey – Availability of DPPs for Community Pharmacists Training as IPs 22 December 2023
• Season’s Greetings 2023 from CPNI 22 December 2023
• Community Pharmacy COVID Vaccination Update 21 December 2023
• NI Pharmacy Technician Regulation Project – December Newsletter 21 December 2023
• Second Concessionary Prices – December 2023 21 December 2023
• Pharmacy First Service UTI – Update 18 December 2023

DOH(NI) ALERTS

• COUNTER FRAUD – Missing Prescription Alert 22 December 2023
• Community Pharmacy Vaccine Service (CPVS) Correspondence (COVID-19 and Flu) – CPVS Update Ten 21 December 2023
• Pharmacies Providing Palliative Care Services – Christmas Opening Hours 20 December 2023
• HSS(MD) 64/2023 – COVID-19 Treatments for Those at Highest Risk – Change in Reporting of Positive COVID-19 Rapid Lateral Flow Test Results 20 December 2023
• HSS(MD) 63/2023 – MHRA Drug Safety Update – Aripiprazole (Abilify and Generic Brands) and Vitamin B12 (Hydroxocobalamin Cyanocobalamin) 20 December 2023
• HSS(MD) 62/2023 – Confirmed Influenza in Northern Ireland – NICE Guidance on Use of Antivirals Now Applies 18 December 2023
• NATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY ALERT – HSS(MD) 61/2023 Potential for Inappropriate Dosing of Insulin When Switching Insulin Degludec (Tresiba) Products 18 December 2023
• SPPG Correspondence: Looking After You and/or Your Pharmacy Team’s Mental Health and Wellbeing 18 December 2023
• NI Medicines Management Newsletter – December 2023 18 December 2023
• Community Pharmacy Assurance Framework Visit Protocol 23-24 December 2023

BSO ALERTS

• Weekly Drug Alerts are available here.
  • MPS 3133 – Medicines Defect Information – Clobazam 5mg/5ml & 10mg/5ml Oral Suspension 13 December 2023 UPDATED
• Weekly Shortages Information is available here.
  • Testosterone (Testim®) 50mg/5g Transdermal Gel Unit Dose Tubes 21 December 2023
  • Estradiol (Estring®) 7.5micrograms/24hours Vaginal Delivery System 21 December 2023
  • Glucagon 1mg Powder for Injection Kit (GlucaGen) 18 December 2023
  • Oxybutynin 5mg Modified-release Tablets 18 December 2023
  • Somatropin (Genotropin® MiniQuick) 0.6mg and 1.4mg Powder and Solvent for Solution for Injection Pre-filled Disposable Devices and Somatropin (Genotropin® GoQuick) 5.3mg Powder and Solvent for Solution for Injection Pre-filled, Multi-dose Pens UPDATED 18 December 2023
• Serious Shortage Protocols are available here.

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

Dear Colleague

The third update of concessionary prices were granted today for December 2023:

Drug	Pack Size	Concessionary Price
Aripiprazole 10mg tablets	28	£16.65
Aripiprazole 15mg tablets	28	£16.77
Benzoyl peroxide 5% / Clindamycin 1% gel	30	£11.90
Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension	70	£5.80
Co-amoxiclav 250mg/62mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	100	£1.99
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg capsules	100	£5.42
Donepezil 5mg tablets	28	£1.50
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops	5	£4.17
Duloxetine 20mg gastro-resistant capsules	28	£7.04
Eplerenone 25mg tablets	28	£6.43
Esomeprazole 40mg gastro-resistant capsules	28	£2.45
Estradiol 10microgram pessaries	24	£9.45
Etoricoxib 30mg tablets	28	£3.04
Ezetimibe 10mg tablets	28	£9.44
Frovatriptan 2.5mg tablets	6	£10.92
Hydrocortisone 10mg tablets	30	£2.13
Lorazepam 500microgram tablets	28	£21.48
Mercaptopurine 50mg tablets	25	£8.77
Metoclopramide 10mg tablets	28	£2.19
Metoprolol 50mg tablets	28	£2.75
Mometasone 50micrograms/dose nasal spray	140	£4.79
Morphine sulfate 10mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules	10	£4.70
Mycophenolate mofetil 500mg tablets	50	£6.47
Ondansetron 4mg tablets	10	£3.14
Paracetamol 500mg effervescent tablets	100	£8.26
Primidone 250mg tablets	100	£86.65
Prochlorperazine 3mg buccal tablets	50	£8.67
Quinine sulfate 300mg tablets	28	£3.95
Rizatriptan 10mg orodispersible tablets sugar free	3	£8.11
Ropinirole 500microgram tablets	28	£15.75
Rosuvastatin 20mg tablets	28	£1.92
Sodium chloride 0.9% nebuliser liquid 2.5ml unit dose ampoules	20	£9.50
Sodium cromoglicate 2% eye drops	13.5	£2.35
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment	30	£19.16
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment	60	£38.32

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

Dear Contractor

CPNI issued a contractor update on 14 December advising that updated information is now available on the NICPLD website in relation to the application process and criteria for the 2024 Independent Prescribing (IP) course.  Following that update, CPNI has been made aware that community pharmacists who would like to apply for IP training are having difficulty securing a Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP).  As having a DPP is an essential criterion for application, CPNI would like to gather evidence on the extent of, and possible reasons for, this issue. CPNI would like to gather this information ahead of the IP application window which will run from 22 January 2024 to Monday 26 February 2024.  The survey findings may assist CPNI in seeking solutions to any issues which exist.

SUMMARY

• CPNI have developed a short survey for community pharmacists who are interested in applying for the IP course in 2024.
• The survey will remain open until 15 January 2024.

ACTION

Contractors are advised to:

• Note the updated information provided on the NICPLD website.
• Ask all community pharmacist employees who are considering applying for the IP course to complete the CPNI survey as soon as possible, and no later than 15 January 2024.

Please contact a member of the CPNI team should you have any queries.

Kind regards