Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague

The first update of concessionary prices were granted today for June 2023:

Drug	Pack Size	Concessionary Price
Amisulpride 100mg tablets	60	£18.15
Atorvastatin 10mg tablets	28	£1.09
Atorvastatin 40mg tablets	28	£1.20
Atorvastatin 80mg tablets	28	£1.55
Benzoyl peroxide 5% / Clindamycin 1% gel	30	£10.90
Bicalutamide 150mg tablets	28	£3.67
Bimatoprost 100micrograms/ml eye drops	3	£3.89
Bisacodyl 5mg gastro-resistant tablets	60	£4.45
Bisoprolol 2.5mg tablets	28	£0.85
Brimonidine 0.2% eye drops	5	£3.80
Brinzolamide 10mg/ml eye drops	5	£2.19
Calcipotriol 0.005% / Betamethasone dipropionate  0.05% ointment	30	£9.21
Chloramphenicol 1% eye ointment	4	£5.20
Chlorpromazine 50mg tablets	28	£23.86
Clarithromycin 250mg tablets	14	£4.20
Clarithromycin 500mg tablets	14	£9.48
Clonidine 25microgram tablets	112	£18.76
Clotrimazole 1% cream	20	£2.11
Co-amilofruse 2.5mg/20mg tablets	28	£4.51
Co-careldopa 25mg/100mg tablets	100	£7.20
Cyclizine 50mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules	5	£9.74
Doxycycline 100mg capsules	8	£0.95
Flucloxacillin 125mg/5ml oral solution	100	£2.70
Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml oral solution	100	£3.91
Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free	100	£3.60
Fluoxetine 20mg/5ml oral solution	70	£10.49
Frovatriptan 2.5mg tablets	6	£12.93
Hydroxocobalamin 1mg/1ml solution for injection  ampoules	5	£11.35
Hydroxychloroquine 200mg tablets	60	£5.09
Ivabradine 2.5mg tablets	56	£47.16
Lansoprazole 15mg orodispersible tablets	28	£3.06
Leflunomide 20mg tablets	30	£3.43
Levetiracetam 100mg/ml oral solution sugar free	300	£10.45
Lofepramine 70mg tablets	56	£13.23
Mebeverine 135mg tablets	100	£6.46
Mometasone 0.1% ointment	30	£4.36
Mometasone 50micrograms/dose nasal spray	140	£2.88
Naftidrofuryl 100mg capsules	84	£10.79
Nebivolol 2.5mg tablets	28	£13.03
Nitrofurantoin 100mg tablets	28	£12.24
Nitrofurantoin 50mg tablets	28	£12.25
Omeprazole 10mg gastro-resistant capsules	28	£1.78
Omeprazole 20mg gastro-resistant capsules	28	£2.04
Perindopril erbumine 2mg tablets	30	£1.27
Perindopril erbumine 4mg tablets	30	£1.75
Perindopril erbumine 8mg tablets	30	£2.40
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 125mg/5ml oral solution	100	£9.30
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution	100	£10.20
Pramipexole 180microgram tablets	30	£8.22
Pregabalin 150mg capsules	56	£2.68
Pregabalin 75mg capsules	56	£2.17
Prochlorperazine 3mg buccal tablets	50	£8.43
Prochlorperazine 5mg tablets	28	£2.01
Quetiapine 300mg tablets	60	£4.08
Sodium cromoglicate 2% eye drops	13.5	£2.59
Spironolactone 100mg tablets	28	£5.10
Spironolactone 25mg tablets	28	£1.97
Tamsulosin 400microgram modified-release capsules	30	£1.75
Telmisartan 80mg tablets	28	£2.86
Terbinafine 1% cream	30	£3.78
Terbinafine 1% cream	15	£3.27
Tolterodine 1mg tablets	56	£2.73
Topiramate 25mg tablets	60	£8.99
Topiramate 50mg tablets	60	£17.79
Valsartan 40mg capsules	28	£6.75
Valsartan 80mg capsules	28	£7.94
Zopiclone 3.75mg tablets	28	£1.95
Zopiclone 7.5mg tablets	28	£1.75

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 new Medicine Shortage Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor

From Monday 19 June 2023, Community Pharmacy NI will run a week-long campaign to raise public awareness of the sustained pressures the local community pharmacy network is experiencing and highlight the value of community pharmacy for the public and the wider health service.

The week-long campaign will consist of:

• Articles in local print and online media outlets
• Social media activity
• Radio advertisements
• Engagement with political representatives

How can community pharmacists get involved?

We will be issuing a range of social media assets throughout the week including social media cards, videos, and articles. Community pharmacists are encouraged to engage with and support the campaign to maximise its impact by:

Following CPNI on social media and share activity on:

• Twitter @compharmacyni
• Facebook @communitypharmacyni
• Instagram @compharmacyni
• Linkedin Community Pharmacy NI

Writing to local elected representatives

You are also encouraged to share your own personal experience and perspective on what it is like to work as a community pharmacist in the current environment either on your own social media or by getting in touch with your local Councillor, MLA or MP.

We have drafted some key messages to help inform your posts or correspondence should you decide to write to your elected representative.

Political Representatives Contact Details

• MPs
• MLAs
• LE23 Elected Councillors

Kind regards

Dear Contractor

CPNI issued contractor updates (CPNI CU#230428A and CPNI CU#230605A) on 28th April and 5th June respectively, regarding the Department of Health NI Technician and Support Staff Survey.  The information is provided again below along with an updated survey link.  The closing date for completion of the survey was originally 31st May.  The closing date was extended to 14th June and now has been extended again to 30th June 2023.

The Department of Health NI issued correspondence on 6th April 2023 inviting all individual pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support staff to complete an online survey.  The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer has advised that the survey is designed to provide a better understanding of the current numbers and skills mix in the pharmacy workforce, and to provide an opportunity for pharmacy colleagues to share their views.  The Department has also developed a printable flyer containing background information for pharmacy personnel and a QR link to the survey.

SUMMARY

Contractors will note:

• The survey is aimed at pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support staff in all sectors, including community pharmacy.
• The survey branches into different sets of questions depending on the area in which the respondent works, their role, and any qualifications they may hold.  Therefore staff members may be asked different questions depending on their individual circumstances.
• The closing date for completion is extended to 30th June 2023.
• DoH advises that the results of the survey will be used in the implementation of the Pharmacy Workforce Review 2020, which seeks to deliver a sustainable pharmacy workforce for the future.
• In addition, DoH indicates that the survey will also support work to establish pharmacy technicians as a regulated healthcare profession in Northern Ireland, as announced by the Minister for Health in June 2022.

ACTION

Contractors should:

• Note the details in the correspondence.
• Share the updated survey flyer and survey link with pharmacy technicians and support staff, noting the extended closing date of 30th June 2023.

Contractors should contact CPNI offices should they have any queries or should their staff experience any difficulties in accessing or completing the survey.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has informed CPNI that updated training will be made available to service providers involved in smoking cessation programmes in Northern Ireland, including those providing the community pharmacy “Stop Smoking” service.  The training will include updated information in consideration of updates to NICE Guideline NG209 “Tobacco: Preventing uptake, promoting quitting and treating dependence” and in recognition of the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes in Northern Ireland.

SUMMARY

Contractors will note:

• The letter of invite to stop smoking service providers is available here.
• A flyer outlining the training aims, dates and locations is available here.
• The PHA have indicated that further dates may be added and information on these will be shared when confirmed.

ACTION

Contractors should:

• Note the details in the correspondence.
• Share the information flyer with relevant members of the pharmacy team.

Contractors should contact CPNI offices should they have any queries.

Kind regards

Dear Contractor

The Department of Health NI issued correspondence dated 9 June 2023 in relation to the serious shortage protocol in place for Progynova TS 100mcg/24hours transdermal patches (SSP052), extending the expiry date until Friday 8 September 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 HERE.
• Operational guidance on the implementation of SSPs in Northern Ireland can be found on the BSO website HERE.

ACTION

Contractors should:

• Review the letter dated 9 June 2023 and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of this update.
• Note that the expiry date of the existing SSP in place for Progynova TS 100mcg/24hours transdermal patches (SSP052) has been extended until Friday 8 September 2023.
• Before supplying the alternative product, FemSeven® 100micrograms/24hours transdermal patch, the pharmacist must ensure the total quantity supplied under this protocol is equivalent to the number of days supplied on the original prescription.
• 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

Dear Contractor

As you will be aware SPPG issued correspondence on Friday 9th June providing a Medicines Adherence Update.

SUMMARY

Multiple Dispensing Transitioning to Instalment Dispensing

• As described in the SPPG correspondence, Drug Tariff amendments came into place on 1st May 2023.
• In light of the Drug Tariff changes GPs have been asked to review patients on an individual basis to ensure that the use of Multiple Dispensing (MD) endorsement on prescriptions is restricted to circumstances (and medicines) associated with a risk of misuse or abuse.  GPs have been asked to remove and no longer initiate MD endorsement for the purposes of life threatening non compliance.
• The new Drug Tariff arrangements aim to separate and distinguish between:
  • the provision of MD endorsement for instalment dispensing for prevention of misuse/abuse, from
  • the provision of adherence support for prevention of non-compliance. 
• However, it is acknowledged that some patients will have needs which fall under both arrangements.
• Therefore, some patients who previously had an MD endorsement for non-compliance issues who have now had this endorsement removed, may require assessment by their community pharmacist and where necessary they may need to be transitioned on to appropriate adherence support.  Guidance on the management of these patients is provided on Pages 9-10 of the SPPG guidance document.
• CPNI is working with SPPG to finalise a transitionary payment arrangement for contractors in light of the gradual removal of MD endorsement.  This is subject to approval and further information will be provided in due course.

Guidance

• It will be for community pharmacy providers to assure that they are compliant with their statutory requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. 
• No other Health Care Practitioner can direct a community pharmacy to provide a patient with adherence support (this would include social care/domiciliary care providers).
• The SPPG guidance includes practical advice in relation to the provision of adherence support, and the relevant DDA  obligations.  Please note the DoH guidance is advisory.  It aims to provide support to community pharmacy providers and their staff in relation to these obligations.  The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (www.equalityni.org) can also be contacted for further advice.
• Contractors will be aware that DDA legislation has been in place since 1995 and does not represent any new obligations on community pharmacy.  The full legislation can be accessed here.

Declaration

• SPPG request a declaration and quarterly return from community pharmacy providers.
  • The declaration is available here and should be completed and returned to local offices by 30th June 2023.
  • The quarterly return form is available here.  The return for the April – June period should be completed and returned to local offices by Friday 7th July 2023.

Communication between Community Pharmacies and General Practices

• CPNI received queries and concerns from community pharmacies in the immediate aftermath following the changes to the Drug Tariff on 1st May 2023.
• These concerns focused on patient safety.
• CPNI previously provided information and templates for contractors in CU#230503B: Multiple Dispensing Update.  In light of ongoing collaboration between SPPG and CPNI, CPNI have agreed that the correspondence and attached guidance within this email supersede CU#230503B.
• Local working is encouraged between community pharmacy and GP practices to ensure effective communication in advance of any changes.

ACTION

Contractors should:

• Review the SPPG correspondence and liaise with GP practices accordingly.
• Note that the declaration is to be returned to local offices by 30th June 2023.
• Note that the return for the April – June period should be completed and returned to local offices by Friday 7th July 2023.

Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI offices if you have any queries.

Kind regards