Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague
Please find correspondence HERE from Kathryn Turner, Pharmacy Lead, Strategic Planning and Performance Group.
SUMMARY
“Know Check Ask” is the first campaign of the Living Well schedule 2022/2023 and was due to commence yesterday, 4 April 2022, has been DELAYED. It is hoped that community pharmacies are able to start the campaign and the new schedule as soon as possible. Evaluations for the last campaign, “Making Healthier Choices”, can now be submitted. This survey is available from 4 April 2022 and should be completed by 2 May 2022. It can be accessed at HERE.It is vital that all pharmacies contracted to provide “Living Well” submit their evaluation survey after each campaign as it allows data to be collated to demonstrate the value and impact of the service to other sectors. Compliance will be monitored with the service requirements, in particular evaluation submission. Where failure has been identified to comply, such as failure to submit evaluation data, the right to recover all, or part of, this funding via an adjustment to the pharmacy’s BSO payment account is reserved.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to review the correspondence. Submit evaluations for the last campaign, “Making Healthier Choices” by 2 May 2022. It can be accessed at HERE. Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office should you require any further information.

Kind regards

Dear Colleague
NICPLD has launched a cybersecurity eLearning programme jointly edited by Sam Kinkaid and myself, and which can be accessed through the NICPLD portal HERE.

The programme is designed to give an overview of the current cybersecurity threat and details preventative measures that can be taken by contractors.  Completion of the course takes two hours which can be credited against CPD requirements.

ACTION

Contractors are asked to:

  • Note the eLearning cybersecurity package now available through the NICPLD portal.
  • Ensure that all pharmacists within your team are aware of the eLearning package and are encouraged to complete it. Contractors should also make other relevant team members aware of its content.

Contractors are reminded that the storage and back up of patient sensitive data and any amendments to your systems should only be carried out in line with advice from your IT or email supplier, PMR system provider and in line with Data Protection legislation.

CPNI colleagues will be happy to further advise on these matters.

Kind regards – Mike

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

This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams, including details of the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BSO ALERTS

CPNI ALERTS 

HSCB ALERTS 

Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).
Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s Contractor Calendar or Contractor Emails.

Or report medicine shortages, pricing and staffing issues via the CPNI’s Medicine Shortage Reporter or Situation Reporter.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF 
DR. GARETH C. GILVARY
Governance & Support Pharmacist
Dear Colleague
Please find correspondence HERE from Helen Parr, Information Pharmacist Health and Social Care Board.

SUMMARY

  • The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) closed on Thursday 31 March 2022, following which the functions of the Board will move to the Department of Health Northern Ireland.
  • To date Patient Group Directions have been authorised by the HSCB, including those currently in use. The Department of Health (NI) will be providing final authorisation on all such PGDs going forwards.
  • All HSCB authorised PGDs currently in use have been re-authorised under the auspices of the Department of Health and can continue to be used.

ACTION

  • Contractors are asked to review the correspondence.
  • If you have any queries in relation to this please do not hesitate to contact Helen Parr Information Pharmacist, Health and Social Care Board (E) helen.parr@hscni.net (T) 07794 615335.
  • Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office should you require any further information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
Please find correspondence HERE from Kathryn Turner, Pharmacy Lead HSCB.

SUMMARY

  • Funding of up to £3,000 per community pharmacy is available to support additional staff costs for the period January to March 2022.
  • Pharmacy contractors were asked to submit a declaration with the estimated amount of funding required.

ACTION

  • Contractors are asked to review the correspondence.
  • Please now return by email the claim form confirming the exact amount of funding required to your local office by Friday 8 April 2022 if you wish to avail of this initiative.
  • Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office should you require any further information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
Please find correspondence HERE from Kathryn Turner, Pharmacy Lead HSCB.

SUMMARY

  • On 22 March 2022 the Minister announced an additional funding of £8m into community pharmacy in 2021/22 in recognition of adherence services provided during that year. This equates to a total of £19m for adherence support in 2021/22.
  • Further communication will be issued to contractors to advise on how this funding will be allocated to contactors in April 2022.
  • An additional £4m of recurrent funding will be made available from April 2022 which would provide an enhanced opening position of £15m recurrent funding for adherence support and work will continue to progress with additional funding bids in year.
  • The first phase will be the introduction of an Interim Community Pharmacy Medicines Adherence Service for hospital and intermediate care discharge patients (cohort 3) which is currently in development in collaboration with CPNI. The service specification will be shared with you in early April. You are not expected to take on new patients until this process is agreed.

ACTION

  • Contractors are asked to review the correspondence.
  • Prioritise the resumption of adherence service provision once arrangements are finalised as outlined above.
  • Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office should you require any further information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive