Archives: Contractor Email

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 and 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
The third update of concessionary prices were granted for February 2022:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Aqueous cream100£0.75
Calcium and Ergocalciferol tablets28£35.00
Losartan 100mg / Hydrochlorothiazide 25mg tablets28£13.99
Methocarbamol 750mg tablets100£14.00
Mometasone 0.1% cream100£10.33
Mometasone 0.1% ointment30£3.37
Mometasone 0.1% ointment100£8.87
Pioglitazone 45mg tablets28£2.68
Pravastatin 10mg tablets28£1.38
Sodium bicarbonate 500mg capsules56£3.80
Solifenacin 5mg tablets30£1.70
Timolol 0.5% eye drops53.14

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

Dear Colleague

Pharmacies providing the Living Well service will be aware that the current campaign “Making Healthier Choices” concludes on 3rd April 2022.  The upcoming campaign will be called “Know, Check, Ask” and will run from 4th April 2022 for two months.  The aim of this campaign will be to reduce medication related harm, raise awareness and educate the public about safe medication use.  Pharmacy teams are ideally placed to promote this important public health message, and during the campaign teams will encourage patients to:

KNOW your medicines and keep an up-to-date list
CHECK that you are using your medicines in the right way
ASK your health care professional if you’re not sure

Summary

As part of the launch of the Know, Check, Ask campaign the HSCB will issue a press release, supported by social media posts.  Additionally, the HSCB are inviting pharmacy teams to get involved.  This would involve taking a photo of your team at the pharmacy displaying some of the Know, Check, Ask campaign materials (e.g. posters, leaflets, counter mat, prescription bag stickers).  A representative of the pharmacy would also be asked to add their details to a campaign press release which would be shared, along with the photos, with local media in their area.

Action

If you or your pharmacy team would like to get involved in this opportunity to promote the Living Well campaign and the role of the community pharmacists as experts in medicines and medicine safety, please contact Jude Austin, CPNI Communications Manager – judea@communitypharmacyni.co.uk by close of business on Tuesday 02 March 2022.

As always, if you have any questions a member of the CPNI team will be happy to assist you.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
Please find correspondence HERE from Kathryn Turner, Pharmacy Lead, Health and Social Care Board.
SUMMARY
  • The Community Pharmacy Emergency Supply during a Pandemic Service commenced on Monday 6 April 2020.
  • Approximately 9,500 items are supplied each month, via the service, to patients in Northern Ireland.
  • As we move out of the current phase of the pandemic, the HSCB will be seeking to commission a routine Community Pharmacy Emergency Supply Service.
  • To better inform the transition to routine service, HSCB in conjunction with CPNI, are inviting community pharmacists to participate in a data collection survey for a period of one week. The collection form can be found HERE.
  • A newsletter supplement highlighting some of the learning identified has been developed and is available HERE.

ACTION

  • Contractors are asked to review the correspondence.
  • From Monday 28 February 2022 until Sunday 6 March 2022, community pharmacists are invited to capture  data for all patients who are requesting an emergency supply.
  • If you have any queries in relation to the completion of the survey please contact your local HSCB office.
  • 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 Joe Brogan, Assistant Director of Integrated Care, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management.

SUMMARY

  • HSCB is seeking completion of the Community Pharmacy Assurance Framework (CPAF) declaration form for your pharmacy, for the 2021/2022 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.
  • HSCB has recently worked with CPNI to review, update and agree the Assurance framework for the 2021/22 year.
  • A payment of £1200 will be made to each pharmacy, upon return of the completed declaration, for compliance with the CPAF process in 2021/22.

ACTION

  • Contractors are asked to review the correspondence.
  • Complete and return the individual prepopulated declaration form which you will have received by secure email. Please submit a return for each pharmacy you operate, to your local HSCB office via email by Monday 28 February 2022.
  • You are also required to submit a copy of your practice leaflet and complaints procedure.
  • CPNI have produced a guidance document and resources to support you with this submission, including a template practice leaflet, available on CPNI’s website HERE.
  • Please do not hesitate to contact your local Local Integrated Care Offices or the CPNI office should you require any further information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
Please find attached correspondence HERE from HSCB Pharmacy and Medicines Management team.

SUMMARY

  • Overall demand has reduced over the past number of weeks but that pharmacies in some areas continue to experience high demand, with some regularly running out between deliveries or having to ration the number of packs given per transaction to extend their supplies.
  • There now exists capacity, under the current arrangements, to allow those pharmacies experiencing ongoing high demand to submit a request to receive a larger order (2-3 cartons).
  • If demand at your pharmacy is at a consistently high level and you would like to request a fixed, ongoing increase please state this within the email request and we will work with UKHSA and Alliance to see if this can be accommodated.

ACTION

  • Contractors are asked to review the correspondence.
  • If you would like to arrange this for your pharmacy please email is LFDtests@health-ni.gov.uk
  • Please state clearly;
    • Name of pharmacy
    • Pharmacy Address
    • Alliance Account Code
    • indicate if you would like to request an order or 2 or 3 cartons.
  • Please do not hesitate to contact your local HSCB office or the CPNI office should you require any further information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive