Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor
SPPG have issued CPVS Update Ten on 
21st December relating to the COVID-19 Vaccination Service.

SUMMARY

  • SPPG have issued an important update regarding the COVID-19 Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service.
  • The PHA have confirmed that the vaccination service for COVID-19 for eligible cohorts will continue until 31st March 2024.
  • This change aligns with the finish date for Community Pharmacy Flu Vaccination Service.

ACTION

  • Contractors should review the CPVS update and share this information with relevant members of the pharmacy team. 
  • For those pharmacies that plan to continue to offer COVID-19 vaccination until 31st March 2024, please continue to order vaccine stock once your current stock is exhausted.

Any queries regarding the Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service should be directed to Greg Miller  (Greg.Miller@hscni.net) or Grainne McMahon (Grainne.McMahon4@hscni.net).

Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI for any further information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The December edition of the Pharmacy Technician Regulation Project Newsletter is now available on the Department of Health website.  The newsletter includes a summary of the results of the Pharmacy Technician and Support Staff survey, conducted in April 2023.  The survey intended to gather data to inform ongoing work towards establishing pharmacy technicians as a regulated healthcare profession in Northern Ireland.

SUMMARY

Contractors will note:

  • Pharmacy technicians in Northern Ireland are not currently regulated, however they are recognised as regulated professionals in other parts of the UK.
  • A recommendation to develop pharmacy technician regulation in Northern Ireland was outlined in the Pharmacy Workforce Review 2020.
  • Plans to develop pharmacy technician regulation in Northern Ireland were announced by the Minister for Health in June 2022.
  • Information on the work of the Pharmacy Technician Regulation Project to date is available here.
  • A monthly newsletter is published to keep all interested stakeholders up to date, and is available here.
  • The December newsletter includes a staff information poster to be printed and displayed in the workplace.
  • The results of the Pharmacy Technician and Support Staff survey are included in the December newsletter and are also available here.
  • Pharmacy technicians and support staff who would like to stay informed about the project can join the project mailing list to receive information and updates directly.

ACTION

Contractors should:

  • Read the Pharmacy Technician Newsletter and share the information with relevant members of the pharmacy team.
  • Print the staff information poster and display in an area of the pharmacy where technician and support staff colleagues are likely to view it.
  • Advise technician and support staff that they can be added to the Technician Regulation Project mailing list to receive all relevant updates.
  • Note: At least one staff member per pharmacy may wish to join the Technician Regulation Project mailing list to ensure that the team remain informed.

Contractors should contact CPNI offices should they have any queries on the Pharmacy Technician Regulation Project.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The second update of concessionary prices were granted yesterday for December 2023:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Amiodarone 200mg tablets28£1.83
Azithromycin 250mg capsules6£1.73
Carbocisteine 250mg/5ml oral solution300£6.86
Chlorphenamine 2mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£3.65
Cinacalcet 30mg tablets28£7.18
Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension70£4.43
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg tablets30£1.32
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg tablets100£4.40
Colecalciferol 1,000unit capsules30£7.69
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml eye drops5£3.43
Doxazosin 4mg tablets28£0.91
Escitalopram 10mg tablets28£1.27
Etoricoxib 90mg tablets28£2.90
Fludrocortisone 100microgram tablets30£6.32
Haloperidol 5mg tablets28£4.62
Hydrocortisone 1% cream15£2.80
Hydrocortisone 1% cream30£3.35
Hydrocortisone 1% cream50£2.96
Ketoconazole 2% shampoo120£19.40
Lamotrigine 100mg tablets56£4.07
Lansoprazole 15mg gastro-resistant capsules28£0.93
Lansoprazole 15mg orodispersible tablets28£2.84
Memantine 10mg/ml oral solution sugar free50£45.03
Metformin 500mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£27.90
Montelukast 10mg tablets28£2.68
Montelukast 5mg chewable tablets sugar free28£1.21
Morphine sulfate 10mg/5ml oral solution300£5.45
Oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free250£9.60
Piroxicam 0.5% gel60£2.12
Piroxicam 0.5% gel112£3.96
Pyridostigmine bromide 60mg tablets200£28.00
Rasagiline 1mg tablets28£20.23
Risperidone 1mg/ml oral solution sugar free100£3.16
Risperidone 2mg tablets60£2.03
Risperidone 4mg tablets60£2.39
Simvastatin 80mg tablets28£1.95
Sodium valproate 200mg/5ml oral solution sugar free300£10.21
Sulpiride 200mg tablets30£3.44
Sulpiride 200mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£102.45
Timolol 0.5% eye drops5£1.89

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
Dear Contractor,
Correspondence has been issued 15th December by SPPG relating to the Pharmacy First Service for uncomplicated lower Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in women aged 16 to 64 years and can be accessed via this link.

Summary

This correspondence includes:

  • A link to the providers list on the BSO website which can be viewed here.
  • A link for any pharmacies who have yet to submit the service contract to SPPG.
  • A link to some FAQs and all service resources.
  • A link to help pharmacies promote the service on Facebook and Instagram.

Action

Contractors are asked to:

  • Please read the correspondence issued 15th December 2023 by SPPG and share with relevant members of your pharmacy team.
  • For any pharmacies that haven’t submitted their contract and wish to do so please use the following link. SPPG will monitor and update the list accordingly.
  • SPPG have released some FAQs regarding the UTI service and contractors can access this information here.
  • All service resources and training may be found on the BSO website here.
  • Please use the following links to help promote the service on Facebook and Instagram.

If you have any queries regarding the Pharmacy First UTI service please contact your local pharmacy adviser.

CPNI colleagues are also available for any queries and advice.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

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
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