Dear Colleague

The following concessionary prices have been granted for June 2021:

DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Baclofen 10mg tablets84£3.17
Chlorpromazine 50mg tablets28£14.55
Eplerenone 25mg tablets28£14.00
Esomeprazole 20mg gastro-resistant tablets28£4.75
Etoricoxib 60mg tablets28£8.50
Etoricoxib 90mg tablets28£10.96
Methadone 5mg tablets50£5.50
Naftidrofuryl 100mg capsules84£8.10
Olmesartan medoxomil 10mg tablets28£6.97
Olmesartan medoxomil 20mg tablets28£7.95
Olmesartan medoxomil 40mg tablets28£12.30
Pregabalin 150mg capsules56£4.73
Pregabalin 200mg capsules84£6.95
Pregabalin 25mg capsules56£3.99
Pregabalin 300mg capsules56£6.63
Pregabalin 50mg capsules84£6.30
Pregabalin 75mg capsules56£5.53
Prochlorperazine 5mg tablets28£1.79
Sulfasalazine 500mg gastro-resistant tablets112£18.19
Sulfasalazine 500mg tablets112£17.45
Trimethoprim 50mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free100ml£10.77
Zonisamide 100mg capsules56£42.00

This is the first update of concessionary prices for June 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.

Many thanks, stay safe – Gareth

SENT ON BEHALF OF DR. GARETH C. GILVARY
Governance & Support Pharmacist

Dear Colleague
As you will be aware, New Models of Prescribing (NMOP) aims to enable medical and non-medical prescribing at interfaces between primary and secondary care. This work will facilitate direct prescribing to appropriate patients at the interface via an HS21 prescription form.

A number of small pilot projects were initiated to test the prescription process and governance frameworks required for successful roll-out of NMOP. Task and finish groups were established to oversee each of the following pilot projects:
  • Physiotherapist prescribing
  • Heart Failure Nurse Specialist (HFNS) prescribing
  • Mental Health Home Treatment Teams medical and non-medical prescribing
  • Dietitian-led ordering and supply of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) for care home patients

The purpose of this survey is to hear your views and experiences of the NMOP pilot projects. A link to Online Stakeholder Feedback can be found HERE.

Many thanks, stay safe – Gareth

SENT ON BEHALF OF 
DR. GARETH C. GILVARY
Governance & Support Pharmacist

Dear Colleague

As per CU210611A on Friday 11 June 2021 which gave Advance Notice for the CPNI Contractor Meeting to be held at 8pm Wednesday 23 June 2021, this email provides further information. 

I write to you to ask that you register your interest with your intention to attend no later than 5pm, Monday 22 June 2021 via email to ggilvary@communitypharmacyni.co.uk. The Zoom link will subsequently be provided in advance of the Zoom Contractor meeting to the email address you provide.

I also write to advise that following security concerns raised by several contractors at a previous Zoom meeting all contractors will be asked to switch-on their camera at the beginning of the contractor meeting and to input their name in the chat-room facility.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Colleague

Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland (CPNI) recently engaged the services of consultancy firm KPMG to provide commentary and views on a series of matters and associated challenges to community pharmacy in Northern Ireland, including its response to COVID-19 and to assess the cost of community pharmacy services in Northern Ireland.

This has been compiled into a report: Community Pharmacy Services in Northern Ireland 2020 and Beyond: Strengths and Pressures.

CPNI will be releasing this report today (Thursday 17 June 2021) and in conjunction with public affairs agency, Brown O’Connor we will be actioning a communications strategy to accompany the rolling out of the publication. Please find attached a press release and copy of the report.

The timing of the report is significant as it can play a supportive role in assisting Robin Swann in his role as Health Minister. On BBC Good Morning Ulster yesterday he talked about the need for a whole systems approach working with community pharmacy and the entire system to do things differently in the different settings. With correct and sustained investment, community pharmacy can offer many solutions to contribute significantly to the transformation in the delivery of health and social care. 

The communications activity will run over several weeks and will comprise of political representatives’ briefings including the Health Committee All-Party Group on Community Pharmacy members, press and social media activity.

We will be sharing several social media cards and video clips which we would invite you to also share on your social media channels, tagging in local MLAs.

I will be in touch soon with further information and details of the upcoming Contractor meeting scheduled for Wednesday 23 June 2021.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Colleague

You will have been contacted by NICPLD in respect of Educational Supervisor Accreditation Training for the Foundation Training Year 2021/2022. Full details can be accessed HERE.

To apply to undertake the ES accreditation programme, pharmacists must complete the application form and submit this by 12 noon on Monday 21 June 2021. The application form can be accessed HERE.

NICPLD has also sent a further email in response to contractor queries in respect of the standing of current accreditation as a Pre-registration Tutor. This can be accessed HERE:

ACTION

Contractors are advised to note:

  1. Both emails from NICPLD in respect of Educational Supervisor Accreditation Training; and
  2. The closing date for applications of 12 noon on Monday 21 June 2021.

Kind regards – Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF PROF. MIKE MAWHINNEY Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Colleague

As you will be aware, the Department of Health (DoH) has launched a public consultation exercise on the policy proposals developed by the Hyponatraemia Implementation Programme for the statutory Duty of Candour and Being Open in health and social care (the consultation closes on 2 August 2021). A link can be found HERE.

This is a significant document to which CPNI is preparing a response. However, you as a contractor may also wish to respond directly to DoH on any of the issues.

ACTION

Contractors are advised to note:

  1. The public consultation on Duty of Candour and Being Open which closes 2 August 2021; and
  2.  The link to send any comments directly to DoH.

Kind regards – Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF PROF. MIKE MAWHINNEY Head of Regulatory Affairs