This is the final update of concessionary prices for July 2021.
Concessionary prices will be paid against the usual code, no additional endorsements are needed.
Concessionary prices may be granted up until the end of the month so CPNI will notify you of any further concessionary prices as and when they are agreed.
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 DR. GARETH C. GILVARY Governance & Support Pharmacist
For the immediate attention of the manager in charge of payroll/human resources.
Dear Contractor
As per February’s contractor update, the £500 HCW staff Recognition payment will be provided to Community Pharmacy staff members, as previously indicated in the letter from Mr Joe Brogan, Assistant Director of Integrated Care, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management to Contractors, dated 15 February 2021.
Whilst the health service will commence the provision of this £500 recognition payment to employees directly employed by the health service in Northern Ireland this month, there are additional administrative elements for HSCB to undertake in processing this payment to all 4 Independent Contractor providers. Consequently, this will delay the £500 payment being processed to staff in the community pharmacy, GP, dental and optometry independent sectors.
Community pharmacy staff are assured of this £500 recognition payment. HSCB will be issuing correspondence to this effect shortly.
Regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
Please find correspondence HERE from Joe Brogan, Assistant Director of Integrated Care, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management and Michelle Tennyson, Chair Dysphagia NI, Assistant Director, AHPS, PPI and Patient Experience.
SUMMARY
In 2018, following an NHS improvement Patient Safety Alert, the Department of Health issued Resources to Support Safer Modification of Food and Drink, which mandated the global International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) terminology and provided implementation guidance across Health and Social Care settings.
This meant a change in the way in which dysphagia diets were classified, from the old “National Descriptors” to the new IDDSI levels.
There was a transition period in 2018, with full implementation of the new framework in Northern Ireland by April 2019. HSCB previously wrote to community pharmacies in November 2018 to highlight this change.
While IDDSI is the recognised international descriptor, not every country has adopted this framework. HSCB has received reports from Speech and Language Therapists and Dietitians that patients have received parallel imported products dispensed from community pharmacies that could cause confusion and increase patient risk.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to review the correspondence and ensure all pharmacy staff involved in the dispensing of these products are made aware of the advice and recommendations within the correspondence..
HSCB strongly recommends that community pharmacies stock the UK version of dysphagia products where possible in the interest of reducing confusion and potential risk to this vulnerable patient group.
In the event of a shortage of the UK product and a parallel import product is sourced, steps should be taken to ensure the patient/carer is adequately supported to use an equivalent dose.
Report supply issues to CPNI via the Medicine Shortage Reporter, for further investigation and appropriate action.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
Please find correspondence HERE from Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer.
SUMMARY
A total Foundation Training Year (FTY) grant of £24,904 is available to each contractor for each student, who will be commencing their placement from July 2021. This will be subject to the regulatory requirements of the Pharmaceutical Society NI (PSNI) being met.
The grant will include a salary of £19,404 for each foundation year trainee, which is an increase of £1,404 per student from last year. The remaining £5,500 grant should be paid to individual contractors to include a protected employer specific, funding allocation per placement, to cover training and employer costs associated with each placement.
These amounts should be reduced proportionately in respect of part-year placements.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to review the correspondence.
Contact CPNI colleagues if you have any further queries.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
FULLY VACCINATED HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE STAFF TOLD TO SELF ISOLATE AS A CLOSE CONTACT MAY BE PERMITTED TO ATTEND WORK IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Dear Colleague
Following CPNI representations over recent weeks Community Pharmacy staff are included in list of Health and Social Care workers that may be permitted to attend work, in exceptional circumstances, where they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have been advised to self-isolate. Please find correspondence HERE from Professor Sir Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer.
SUMMARY AND ACTION POINTS
Fully vaccinated Health and Social Care workers who have been told to self-isolate as a close contact will be permitted to attend work in exceptional circumstances. This may only occur in exceptional circumstances following a risk assessment carried out by a suitably competent and authorised manager in the organisation and when additional mitigations can be upheld.
These include:
The staff member should undertake a PCR test as soon as possible and must isolate until they receive the result. They should only be permitted to attend work if this result is negative. Providers should ensure that arrangements are in place to document the date and result of the PCR test.
The staff member should undertake daily LFD tests for 10 days following the last contact with the COVID case. Tests should be taken prior to leaving for work each day.
Test results should be reported via the DHSC web portal and to their duty manager / trust. A staff member who has a positive LFD test during this period should not attend work and should isolate and arrange a PCR test as soon as possible.
The staff member should be given information about COVID symptoms and asked to self-check for symptoms every day. If the staff member develops any COVID symptoms they should stay at home and immediately arrange a PCR test.
Staff working during this period should comply with all relevant infection control precautions and PPE should be properly worn throughout the day. Any breaches should be reported immediately to their line manager.
The staff member should not work with clinically extremely vulnerable patients, as determined by the organisation.
It is recommended that the staff member should not take breaks or eat meals with other staff as face coverings are removed and it may be difficult to ensure distancing in less formal settings. In limited circumstances where separate arrangements cannot be facilitated, staff must adhere strictly to social distancing requirements and also ensure full adherence to all IPC and PPE requirements.
They can only leave their place of self-isolation to undertake work activities, including travel to and from work. They can travel to work by their normal route but should wear a face covering for their journey if within an enclosed space with other individuals.
Outside of work activities, the individual must follow current advice for self isolation.
Health and social care workers who are close contacts of a positive COVID case in their household are NOT eligible for exemption from isolation under this policy. Household contact presents a higher risk of transmission because of the prolonged and ongoing nature of the exposure.
You are asked to bring this letter to the attention of individuals with responsibility for staff management within your pharmacy(-ies) to ensure that current public health objectives are balanced with the need to provide important community pharmacy services to patients on behalf of the health service.
Kind regards
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
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
