The Department of Health NI issued correspondence dated 28 April 2023 in relation to the extension of the expiry dates of the existing eight serious shortage protocols in place for phenoxymethylpenicillin preparations (SSP040 – SSP047) until Friday 12th May 2023. In addition, the expiry date of the current SSPs for clarithromycin preparations (SSP053 and SSP054) has been extended until Friday 26th May 2023.
SUMMARY
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 of 28 April 2023 and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of these updates.
Note that the expiry date of the existing eight SSPs in place for phenoxymethylpenicillin preparations (SSP040 – SSP047) has been extended until Friday 12th May 2023.
Note that the expiry date of the current SSPs in place for clarithromycin preparations (SSP053 and SSP054) has been extended until Friday 26th May 2023.
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
This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams, including details of the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke are launching a blood pressure campaign in May to highlight that 1 in 2 heart attacks and strokes are linked to high blood pressure. This is the 2nd year this campaign has ran and more information is available here.
Sodium chloride 0.9% nebuliser liquid 2.5ml unit dose ampoules
20
£9.12
Sodium cromoglicate 2% eye drops
13.5
£2.69
Spironolactone 100mg tablets
28
£5.98
Spironolactone 50mg tablets
28
£3.93
Tamsulosin 400microgram modified-release capsules
30
£1.75
Trazodone 100mg capsules
56
£4.26
Trazodone 50mg capsules
84
£5.76
Trimethoprim 50mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free
100
£7.53
Valaciclovir 500mg tablets
10
£20.59
Valsartan 160mg capsules
28
£10.88
Venlafaxine 150mg modified-release capsules
28
£4.99
Venlafaxine 75mg modified-release capsules
28
£3.20
Venlafaxine 75mg modified-release tablets
30
£3.29
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
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
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 Colleague
SPPG issued correspondence on 26 April 2023 regarding the COVID-19 Spring Booster 2023.
SUMMARY
Pharmacies vaccinating care home residents should order enough vaccine to vaccinate care home residents plus pharmacy walk-ins. Pharmacies planning to vaccinate walk-in patients only should order one box initially (one box = 60 doses).
Community Pharmacists are reminded that the SPPG COVID-19 vaccine Patient Group Direction (PGD) is the only legal authority to allow administration of the Spring Booster and this covers registered healthcare professionals only. There is no national protocol in place for the Spring 23 vaccination programme.
A VMS update is planned for the evening of Thursday 27 April 2023.
A number of care homes have dual registration status whereby one section of the home will have a nursing home registration and another section of the home a residential home registration. It is essential that the correct RQIA code is attributed to each care home resident vaccinated on VMS to assure the PHA that all registered homes are vaccinated.
Community Pharmacists are reminded that the eligible Spring Booster cohorts are defined by Department of Health policy. Those eligible for the 2023 Spring Booster are:
Care home residents 18 years +
Immunocompromised 18 years +
Individuals 75 years +
Note: care home staff are not eligible for the Spring 23 Booster programme
ACTION
Contractors are asked to:
Place a vaccine order to meet their requirements.
Clarify with care home staff which RQIA registration code applies to each patient as both registered premises are in many cases under one roof.
Liaise with care home leads no later than 48-72 hours before clinic date to ensure that:
care home staff have completed and shared all the required paperwork in relation to residents to be vaccinated and best interest decisions
the care home has prepared to have adequate staff in place to assist vaccinators and
there is a base for the pharmacy vaccination team to use and
whether there will internet access on the day.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF Gerard Greene Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
CPNI wishes to make community pharmacies aware that while SPPG are seeking to put a rota in place for Monday 8 May 2023 in recognition of the bank holiday for the Coronation of King Charles III, any pharmacy that is contracted to open on Saturday 6 May 2023 would still be expected to open. If you are contracted to be open on Saturday 6 May 2023 and would wish to close, you are advised to contact your local SPPG office who are dealing with any specific contractor requests on an individual basis.
Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office if you require any further information.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF Gerard Greene Chief Executive
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