Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor
SPPG issued correspondence on Monday 22 May 2023 providing an update in relation to the provision of PPE to community pharmacies.

SUMMARY

Contractors will note:

  • Prior to the pandemic, Community Pharmacies were responsible for sourcing (and paying for) their own PPE.
  • However during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Health provided PPE free of charge to the Community Pharmacy network since March 2020.
  • Updated IPC guidance recently issued by PHA recommends a return to the application of standard and transmission-based precautions when dealing with respiratory illnesses.
  • The recommendation for universal masking in all health and social care settings including care homes has been removed.
  • The latest guidance can be found at: https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/
  • In light of this position, the Department of Health has taken a decision to end the provision of free PPE to the Community Pharmacy network.
  • Therefore, Community Pharmacies should now revert to pre-pandemic arrangements for the procurement of PPE.
  • In the longer term, if PHA advice materially changes indicating higher risk due to COVID-19, this decision will be reviewed.

ACTION

Contractors should:

  • Note the details in the correspondence and share with any relevant members of the pharmacy team.
  • Review the updated guidance.
  • Revert to pre-pandemic PPE ordering processes.

Contractors should contact CPNI offices should they have any queries.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
SPPG issued COVID-19 Spring Booster 2023 Update 6 on 22 May 2023.  Earlier updates can be viewed here:

COVID-19 Spring Booster 2023 Update 1
COVID-19 Spring Booster 2023 Update 2
COVID-19 Spring Booster 2023 Update 3
COVID-19 Spring Booster 2023 Update 4
COVID-19 Spring Booster 2023 Update 5

SUMMARY

Update 6 informs CPVS contractors:

Completion:

  • Almost 11,000 individuals have received their COVID-19 spring booster vaccine from community pharmacists across NI since the beginning of the spring campaign.
  • This includes over 8,000 care home residents from 334 (74%) homes.

Care Home Residents:

  • There is now one full week left to complete care home resident vaccinations.
  • The operational target for completing care home resident vaccinations (including those missed in original clinics) is next Wednesday 31 May 2023.
  • Should pharmacies have difficulty in scheduling dates or any other issue in relation to care home vaccination please contact Greg Miller (Greg.Miller@hscni.net), Bronagh Ward (Bronagh.Ward@hscni.net) or Helen Parr (Helen.Parr@hscni.net).

Primary and Spring Booster:

  • There are now five weeks left of the 2023 COVID-19 spring booster programme, which runs until 30 June 2023.
  • Until this date community pharmacists should continue to plan and operate clinics for all eligible individuals, for primary and booster vaccinations. 
  • Community pharmacies who have signed a contract to provide the CPVS spring booster will be displayed on the NI direct map advertising the service.
  • Where eligible individuals contact pharmacy seeking vaccination, arrangements should be made for this to take place. 
  • Movianto records indicate a number of pharmacies have not yet ordered vaccine.
  • Please ensure you have adequate vaccine stock available to accommodate vaccine requests from eligible individuals.

Community pharmacy spring 2023 vaccine product

  • The COVID-19 adult vaccine PGD is used by trusts, community pharmacists and general practice and therefore lists both the Pfizer and Sanofi spring vaccines currently used throughout NI.
  • However, Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5 is the only vaccine which was deployed for use by community pharmacists delivering the CPVS for all eligible individuals 18 years +.

ACTION

Contractors providing the CPVS are asked to:

  • Review CPVS Update 6, and the previous updates (1-5 linked above) if not already reviewed.
  • Take note of the deadline for completion of the vaccination of care home residents by 31 May 2023 and ensure the necessary plans are in place.
  • Take note of the completion date for the Spring Booster programme by 30 June 2023.
  • Ensure pharmacies have adequate stocks of the Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5 vaccine.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
Gerard Greene
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
SPPG issued correspondence on Monday 22 May 2023 advising those pharmacies who participate in the Community Pharmacy Living Well Service, that access to the campaign surveys has now been reinstated.

SUMMARY

Contractors will note:

  • Living Well surveys had been on hold but are now reinstated and are available here.
  • Previous survey weblinks (survey monkey) can no longer be used.
  • Community pharmacies will receive the usual correspondence to notify of the survey launches prior to a campaign finishing.

Home Accident Prevention:

  • The survey is now available here.
  • This survey must be completed by 16th June 2023.

Live Longer and Stronger:

  • The survey is now available here.
  • This survey must be completed by 14th July 2023.

Look after your eyes:

  • Access to this survey will be emailed to pharmacies week commencing 5th June 2023.

General requirements:

  • When completing evaluation surveys please ensure you use the correct contractor number. 
  • It is vital that all pharmacies contracted to provide “Living Well” submit their evaluation survey after each campaign as it allows SPPG to collate data to demonstrate the value and impact of the service to other sectors, and supports future commissioning and service development. 
  • Failure to submit evaluation data may result in full or partial recovery of a community pharmacy’s Living Well funding.

ACTION

Contractors participating in the Living Well service should:

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

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Colleague

PRELIMINARY NOTICE is hereby given that the Third Annual General Meeting of the Members of the Company will be held at 4.00pm on Thursday 8th June 2023, immediately after the June 2023 CPNI Board meeting, for the purpose of considering the following business:

1.    Notice of meeting.

2.    Apologies for absence.

3.   Minutes of CPNI AGM held on 23rd June 2022.

4.    Chairman’s Report.

5.   Report on the Summary Income Statement and Balance Sheet for the year ended 31 October 2021.

6.    Appointment of Auditors.

7.    Appointment of Solicitors.

8.    Closing remarks by the Chairman.

AGM papers will be sent out by post w/c 29th May 2023.

Any member wishing to submit a Notice of Motion should complete the Notice of Motion pro-forma HERE and ensure it is returned to CPNI offices no later than Friday 26th May 2023.

Members are asked to confirm their attendance, or otherwise, to info@communitypharmacyni.co.uk on or before Wednesday 24th May 2023 for the purposes of finalising the venue for the AGM.

By order of the Board

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence on 22 May 2023 (dated 19 May 2023) in respect of Utrogestan 100mg capsules.

DETAILS

  • 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.
  • DHNI has advised that SSP056 enables community pharmacists across the UK to supply patients with no more than two months’ worth of supply of Utrogestan® 100mg capsules, where the total quantity specified on the prescription exceeds two months’ worth of supply.  The protocol allows for a reduced quantity of Utrogestan® 100mg capsules to be supplied to help manage the ongoing supply disruption affecting this product.
  • Pharmacists should refer to the latest versions of SSPs which are available on the Business Services Organisation dedicated page on its website here.

ACTION

Contractors are asked to:

  • Note that SSP056 relating to Utrogestan 100mg capsules has been issued;
  • Review the DHNI letter dated 19 May 2023 and ensure that dispensary teams are aware of it; and
  • Note the details contained within this letter 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

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Colleague

Contractors are encouraged to select candidates to fill the 4 spaces on the Board of the Pharmacy Forum of Northern Ireland in the elections which close tomorrow at 12 noon, Tuesday 23rd May 2023.

Further details of the candidates and how to vote are contained below.

PHARMACY FORUM NI BOARD ELECTIONS 2023

Voting in the Pharmacy Forum NI 2023 Board Elections closes at noon tomorrow.

Seven candidates are standing, and there are four spaces to be filled.

The candidates are:

• Aaron Courtenay
• Adele Graham
• Judith Gray
• Anne McAlister
 • Sheelin McKeagney
• Glynis McMurtry
• Fonde Nkonki

All members of the Pharmacy Forum NI are eligible to vote.

You will have up to four votes of equal weighting.

Click on the link below to read the candidate manifestos and cast your votes.

Vote Now

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive