Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague
The Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed that the following concessionary prices granted in October 2023 will be rolled over for November 2023:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Atomoxetine 10mg capsules28£45.59
Duloxetine 20mg gastro-resistant capsules28£9.45
Etoricoxib 30mg tablets28£1.79
Etoricoxib 90mg tablets28£2.14
Itraconazole 100mg capsules15£9.85
Ketoconazole 2% shampoo120£19.40
Memantine 10mg/ml oral solution sugar free50£5.49
Metformin 500mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£27.51
Morphine sulfate 10mg/5ml oral solution300£5.45
Quetiapine 25mg tablets60£1.38
Rosuvastatin 5mg tablets28£1.25
Timolol 0.5% eye drops5£2.00
Zonisamide 100mg capsules56£21.95

As the Northern Ireland Drug Tariff Cat-M Reimbursement arrangements follow the English Drug Tariff reimbursement arrangements we anticipate that the lines and prices stated above will also be applied to the Northern Ireland Drug Tariff from 1 November 2023.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing
the Autumn 2023 COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza
Community Pharmacy Vaccine Service (CPVS)
Dear Contractor
The following communication was issued 01.11.23 by SPPG to those pharmacies involved in the community pharmacy vaccination service.  Please ensure this information is shared with relevant members of your pharmacy team.

1. Pharmacy Vaccination Delivery

  • Community pharmacies have responded quickly and efficiently in the autumn programme to provide vaccinations for eligible patients after the programme was commenced three weeks earlier than planned.
  • 98% of care homes were vaccinated by the 31st October 2023 PHA target.
  • 16k+ COVID-19 and 20k+ Flu walk-in vaccines were given by community pharmacy.

2. Reminder: Declaration of Completion of Care Home Vaccinations by 31St October 2023

  • To claim the £200 payment for each care home completed by 31st October 2023 contractors should complete the on-line declaration (link click here) by 5pm on Friday 3rd November.

3. Vaccination Service [November 2023 – March 2024]

  • The vaccination programme for COVID-19 will continue in November until early December 2023 with standard payments payable for those vaccinations administered after the 31st October 2023.
  • The Flu vaccination program will continue through the winter to March 2024.
  • If you have any queries about the Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service (CPVS) please contact Greg Miller (greg.miller@hscni.net) or Grainne McMahon (Grainne.McMahon4@hscni.net).

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
Correspondence issued by Kathryn Turner relating to the Pharmacy First Service for uncomplicated lower Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in women aged 16 to 64 years has been placed on the BSO website and can be accessed via this link.

The letter covers:

  • Remuneration
  • Training (SPPG will provide live training at an ECHO session on Tuesday 7 November 2023 at 7.30pm)
  • Supporting resources
  • Promotion of the service
  • Contract (pharmacy contractors should complete the electronic contract form at the link given by Friday 10 November 2023 to notify SPPG of their intention to provide the service)
  • Pilot pharmacies

Action

Contractors are asked to:

  1. Note and read the correspondence.
  2. Complete the electronic form by Friday 10 November 2023 to notify SPPG of your intention to provide the service for each pharmacy from which you wish to provide the service.
  3. Ensure that your pharmacist(s) are aware of the ECHO session on 7 November 2023, and of the commencement of this service.

CPNI considers this to be an important and positive community pharmacy service development and we would encourage contractors and their teams to confirm their intention to provide this service with SPPG on or before 10 November 2023.

If you have any queries please contact your local pharmacy adviser.

CPNI colleagues are also available for advice.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The final update of concessionary prices were granted today for October 2023:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Amisulpride 200mg tablets60£31.19
Atomoxetine 10mg capsules28£45.59
Betahistine 16mg tablets84£9.55
Betahistine 8mg tablets84£3.45
Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream100£4.62
Bimatoprost 300micrograms/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye
drops		3£4.27
Carbocisteine 375mg capsules120£7.68
Carbomer ‘980’ 0.2% eye drops10£4.05
Cyclizine 50mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules5£5.72
Dexamfetamine 5mg tablets28£22.87
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops 0.2ml
unit dose preservative free		60£19.05
Duloxetine 20mg gastro-resistant capsules28£9.45
Etoricoxib 30mg tablets28£1.79
Etoricoxib 90mg tablets28£2.14
Fludrocortisone 100microgram tablets30£5.85
Itraconazole 100mg capsules15£9.85
Ketoconazole 2% shampoo120£19.40
Lamotrigine 100mg tablets56£4.77
Lamotrigine 200mg tablets56£5.89
Lamotrigine 25mg tablets56£2.83
Letrozole 2.5mg tablets14£3.26
Lorazepam 500microgram tablets28£27.17
Memantine 10mg/ml oral solution sugar free50£5.49
Metformin 500mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£27.51
Midazolam 10mg/2ml solution for injection ampoules10£5.18
Morphine sulfate 10mg/1ml solution for injection
ampoules		10£5.02
Morphine sulfate 10mg/5ml oral solution300£5.45
Pantoprazole 40mg gastro-resistant tablets28£3.62
Paracetamol 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free200£7.44
Paracetamol 500mg effervescent tablets100£7.78
Permethrin 5% cream30£11.50
Quetiapine 25mg tablets60£1.38
Riluzole 50mg tablets56£9.00
Ropinirole 2mg tablets28£18.85
Rosuvastatin 5mg tablets28£1.25
Sodium chloride 0.9% nebuliser liquid 2.5ml unit dose
ampoules		20£12.25
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment30£20.17
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment60£37.57
Timolol 0.5% eye drops5£2.00
Zonisamide 100mg capsules56£21.95

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
For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Autumn 2023 COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza Community Pharmacy Vaccine Service (CPVS)
Dear Contractor
The following communication was issued today by SPPG to those pharmacies involved in the community pharmacy vaccination service.  Please ensure this information is shared with relevant members of your pharmacy team.

REMINDER: Declaration of Completion of Care Home Vaccinations by 31st October 2023: Claim for additional £200 payment

As per the COVID-CPVS service specification community pharmacies are reimbursed an additional £200 fee where vaccination of residents of a Care Home has been fully completed by 31st October 2023.

To claim this payment contractors should complete the on-line declaration (link below) by 5pm on Friday 3rd November.

https://consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk/hsc/additional-fee-for-completion-of-care-home-vacs

Each of the care home(s) completed by 31st October should be selected from the drop-down list.  Contractors are asked make a single return selecting multiple care homes where required.

If you have any queries relating to this declaration please contact Tom Coyle (Tom.Coyle@hscni.net).

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

RPS Survey on Advanced Pharmacist Development

CPNI has been advised that registered pharmacists in the UK have been invited to participate in an RPS survey examining advanced pharmacist development.  CPNI is aware that the number of community pharmacists in NI who engage or enrol in advanced practice development is lower than that of other sectors, for many reasons which are often beyond their control.  The open text box at the end of the survey may present an opportunity for community pharmacists to provide their views.

Southern Regional College Pharmacy Support Role Career Programme

CPNI has been advised that the Southern Regional College will be running a free 3-week part-time programme at their Banbridge campus which is designed to help students achieve the skills they need to apply for pharmacy support roles.  Further information is available on the SRC facebook page and the course application form can be accessed here.

Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s Contractor Calendar and Contractor Emails.
Or report medicine shortages, pricing and staffing issues via the 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