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 31st May 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.
Share details of the survey and the survey link with pharmacy technicians and support staff, noting the closing date of 31st May 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
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
Contractor Locality Group meetings held in April and May 2023
CPNI Directors provided detailed feedback at last Thursday’s CPNI Board meeting on the discussions at the recent Contractor Locality Group meetings.
A significant amount of feedback was provided in relation to:
current funding and operating difficulties,
contractor actions to highlight the difficulties and
public awareness of the current difficulties.
The Board of Directors wishes to convey its thanks to you all for your input and for the information you provided at those meetings.
You will be aware that the Budget announcement by the Secretary of State on 27th April 2023 [here] only included a 0.5% increase in the budget for health. It also recognised that there is no prospect of additional funding being provided to health until, at least, such times that the Northern Ireland Assembly is restored. Accordingly, the current community pharmacy opening allocation for 2023/24 remains at £128m.
CPNI Board is acutely aware of the call from Contractors for community pharmacy action to be taken to highlight the unprecedented difficulties in the sector. This is entirely understandable. Taking into account the various aspects that were discussed at the May Board meeting, CPNI Board advises that contractors maintain as best as possible the contracted services they currently provide to patients. CPNI continues to advise both the DoH(NI) and SPPG of the unprecedented difficulties and the need for resources and support to be provided at the earliest opportunity, as well as using CPNI Comms to highlight the sectoral difficulties.
The priority for CPNI currently is to work with SPPG to stabilise and resolve specific funding and service issues, including adherence services, while ensuring that plans are developed to address sectoral funding and operational difficulties in a strategic and sustainable manner going forward. The need for stability is obvious and there is recognition of this by SPPG. CPNI Board therefore endorsed continued engagement with DoH(NI) and SPPG on these matters.
A contractor meeting will take place before the end of June at which a further update, including progress made with adherence services and funding, will be provided.
Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI offices should you require any additional information at this time.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF Gerard Greene Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Northern Ireland Pharmacy Conference 2023 is taking place in the ICC Belfast on 31st May. Community pharmacists are invited to attend this free event and it is an opportunity to listen to, and interact with, pharmacy representatives across the region who will share their vision for the future of the pharmacy profession. (Event flyer here)
The conference is to be chaired by Marie-Louise Connolly (BBC Health Correspondent). Gerard Greene (Community Pharmacy NI) will be presenting, alongside Colin McCoy (Head of School of Pharmacy, QUB), Cathy Harrison (Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for NI), and representatives from the Pharmaceutical Society NI, Pharmacy Forum NI, Department of Health and the Pharmacists’ Defence Association.
Following the event, delegates will be issued with a certificate of attendance via email which can be contributed towards their ongoing CPD.
SENT ON BEHALF OF Jude Austin Communications Manager
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
WhatsApp Business Terms of Service can be found here and privacy policy hereUCA-NI Privacy Policy We take your privacy seriously and do not share or sell any personal details with third parties for commercial purposes. If you have any questions, please contact the CPNI office. You can withdraw your consent to be contacted at any time by calling 028 9069 0444 or by emailing info@communitypharmacyni.co.uk. CPNI Data Protection Policy and Data Retention policy can be found Click Here
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