Dear Colleague,
SPPG have issued correspondence regarding the Community Pharmacy Assurance Framework on 27 February 2025.

SUMMARY

  • SPPG is seeking completion of the Community Pharmacy Assurance Framework (CPAF) declaration form for your pharmacy, for the 2024/25 year.
  • The aim and purpose of the framework is to monitor compliance with Terms of Service, service specifications, related professional standards and best practice guidance.
  • SPPG has recently worked with CPNI to review, update and agree the Assurance framework for the 2024/25 year.
  • The declaration form is now to be completed by Monday 10 March 2025 on MS forms using the following link here.
  • A payment of £1200 will be made to each pharmacy, upon return of the completed declaration for compliance with the CPAF process in 2024/25.
  • Last year community pharmacies will have submitted a copy of their practice leaflet and complaints procedure alongside their CPAF declaration for 2023/24. If either of these has changed since last year’s submission, SPPG have requested a copy to be emailed to your local Primary Care Office by 31 March 2025.
  • The resumed CPAF visits will continue as per the SPPG process, and pharmacies will be contacted directly if selected for a visit.

ACTION

Contractors are asked to review the correspondence issued by SPPG on 27 February 2025 and share with all relevant team members.

Please contact your Pharmacy Advisor at local offices for any queries regarding this correspondence. 

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
PHA have issued communication today regarding the Spring 2025 COVID-19 Vaccination Programme to provide some early operational detail.

Further correspondence regarding the Spring Programme will be issued over the coming days.

SUMMARY

The communication outlines:

  • The eligible cohorts.
  • The expected start date. 
  • The vaccines to be used.
  • Ordering and delivery dates.
  • The recording of vaccinations.
  • Training.

ACTION

  • Ensure this communication is brought to the attention of pharmacy team members involved in the community pharmacy vaccination service.
  • Should you have any further questions please contact pha.immunisation@hscni.net.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Contractor,

CPNI representatives attended the Health Committee this afternoon to further highlight the concerns regarding community pharmacy funding and the impact this is having on community pharmacy teams, community pharmacy services and ultimately patients.  In advance of the Health Committee meeting, CPNI were notified by SPPG of an enhanced opening funding position for 2025/26.  This included an increase in the retained margin from £31.5m to £34m.  One notable aspect that has been confirmed is that the discount (clawback) applied to appliances will be reduced from 10.39% to 0% from 1st April 2025.  This is one element that CPNI have been lobbying hard for over many months and is a much needed change.  While this intervention is welcome, it does not address the full extent of the funding deficit that exists.

CPNI has also received confirmation that the balance of the 2024/25 DDRB uplift (£2.45m) has been approved and is working with SPPG to ensure this is released to the network as soon as possible.

CPNI Board will be meeting next week to discuss this further and the network will be updated accordingly.

Yours sincerely,

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
REMINDER: For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing
Community Pharmacy Care Home Support Service (CPCHSS)
Dear Contractor
Correspondence has been issued 7 February 2025 by SPPG to those pharmacies involved in the Community Pharmacy Care Home Support Service (CPCHSS).  

SUMMARY

  • A requirement for the Community Care Home Support Service is to complete two care home visits each financial year.
  • The second care home visit is due to be completed by the end of March 2025.
  • SPPG have introduced a process for partial recuperation of payments made to community pharmacists who are contracted to provide the service but have not completed the required visits in line with service specification.
  • SPPG will be in contact in early April to seek confirmation and dates of the visits completed during 24/25 year.

ACTION

  • Contractors should read the correspondence issued by SPPG 7 February 2025.
  • Any pharmacy yet to complete the second required care home visit should organise a date before the end of March 2025.
  • Please share this information with all relevant members of the team.

If you have any queries in relation to this service please contact  Breege.Brogan@hscni.net or Mary.McIlvenna@hscni.net.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
DHNI has written to contractors (here) enclosing a link to the online controlled drug declaration and self-assessment for 2025 which is mandated under The Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.

Action

Contractors are reminded that this online questionnaire must be completed by 11 April 2025.

If you have any queries regarding the completion of the questionnaire, in the first instance please contact Michelle Keatings (02890 520230) michelle.keatings@health-ni.gov.uk or Claire O’Reilly (02890 520219) claire.oreilly@health-ni.gov.uk.

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Colleague
The final update of concessionary prices were granted today for February 2025:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Desmopressin 240microgram sublingual tablets sugar free30£36.32
Paracetamol 500mg effervescent tablets100£6.99
Purified water5000£3.55
Water for injections 10ml ampoules10£2.95
The following concessionary prices granted in February 2025 have rolled over to March 2025:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Calamine lotion200£1.78
Colestyramine 4g oral powder sachets50£15.95
Nitrazepam 5mg tablets28£1.70
Rizatriptan 10mg orodispersible tablets sugar free3£8.18

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 Medicine Shortage Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive