Archives: Contractor Email

For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing
Community Pharmacy Care Home Support Service (CPCHSS)
Dear Contractor
SPPG have informed CPNI that there are a number of outstanding declaration forms for the care home support service which requires contractors to complete two visits per care home for the 23/24 year.

SUMMARY

  • A requirement for the Community Care Home Support Service is to complete two visits per care home in each financial year.
  • For the 23/24 year, there are a number of declaration forms still to be submitted to SPPG confirming that the two visits per care home have been completed.
  • SPPG have advised that there are some pharmacies that provide the CPCHSS  who fall into one of the following categories:
    • Not submitted a return for any care home visit within the 23/24 year.
    • Only submitted a return for one visit for a care home within the 23/24 year
    • Submitted returns for some care homes, but not all of the care homes that they are contracted for.
  • SPPG may recoup a proportion of the funding that has already been paid to community pharmacists who are contracted to provide the service but have not completed the required visits in line with the service specification.

ACTION

  • Contractors who provide the CPCHSS are requested to submit a  return confirming the two visits per care home for 23/24 have been completed.
  • Ensure that the two visits per care home for 24/25 are completed before the end of March 2025.

If you wish to check if you have any outstanding returns due to SPPG regarding the 2023/24 care home support service please contact Tom Coyle at SPPG: Tom.Coyle@hscni.net.  

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.

CPNI ALERTS

DOH(NI) ALERTS

BSO ALERTS

  • Weekly Drug Alerts are available here.
  • Weekly Shortages Information is available here.
  • Serious Shortage Protocols are available here.

Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s Contractor Calendar and Contractor Emails.

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

Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
Gerard Greene
Chief Executive
**FAO LIVING WELL PHARMACIES ONLY**
Dear Contractor
Correspondence has been issued by SPPG 30 December 2024 to those pharmacies yet to submit an evaluation survey for the Living Well campaign ‘Sexual health’.

SUMMARY

  • The survey for the campaign ‘Sexual health’ is open and can be accessed here.
  • The survey must be completed by 6pm 13 January 2025, please ensure to reach the final screen to confirm submission.

ACTION

Contractors who have yet to complete the Living Well survey for the campaign ‘Sexual health’ are asked to read the correspondence issued by SPPG 30 December 2024 and share with relevant team members.

For any further information please contact CPNI offices.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
Community Pharmacy England have advised that the fourth update of concessionary prices below granted on 23 December 2024 was the final update for December 2024.
DrugPack
Size		Concessionary Price
Amantadine 100mg capsules56£12.75
Aqueous cream500£5.17
Ascorbic acid 100mg tablets28£35.26
Ascorbic acid 500mg tablets28£37.97
Aspirin 300mg tablets100£9.81
Aspirin 300mg tablets32£3.14
Benzoyl peroxide 5% / Clindamycin 1% gel30£11.90
Benzoyl peroxide 5% / Clindamycin 1% gel60£22.00
Candesartan 4mg tablets7£0.59
Carbimazole 5mg tablets100£7.27
Desogestrel 75microgram tablets84£2.57
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops5£5.50
Escitalopram 5mg tablets28£1.99
Estradiol 10microgram pessaries24£10.68
Flucloxacillin 500mg capsules28£3.04
Gabapentin 600mg tablets100£24.90
Glimepiride 1mg tablets30£1.07
Haloperidol 1.5mg tablets28£9.29
Haloperidol 5mg tablets28£9.88
Hydrocortisone 10mg tablets30£1.96
Itraconazole 100mg capsules15£6.95
Levetiracetam 250mg tablets60£1.88
Lofepramine 70mg tablets56£24.50
Lorazepam 1mg tablets28£4.76
Mebeverine 135mg tablets100£3.55
Melatonin 1mg/ml oral solution sugar free150£50.50
Memantine 10mg tablets28£2.41
Memantine 20mg tablets28£3.53
Mercaptopurine 50mg tablets25£22.41
Metformin 1g modified-release tablets56£3.65
Methotrexate 10mg tablets100£37.80
Midazolam 10mg/2ml solution for injection ampoules10£5.58
Mometasone 0.1% cream30£3.25
Mometasone 0.1% ointment30£2.96
Naftidrofuryl 100mg capsules84£10.00
Naproxen 250mg gastro-resistant tablets56£9.02
Naproxen 500mg gastro-resistant tablets56£19.60
Nicorandil 10mg tablets60£5.67
Olanzapine 10mg orodispersible tablets sugar free28£10.20
Olanzapine 15mg tablets28£2.57
Ondansetron 4mg tablets10£5.24
Oxytetracycline 250mg tablets28£11.39
Pregabalin 150mg capsules56£2.33
Pregabalin 300mg capsules56£2.76
Pregabalin 50mg capsules84£7.63
Propantheline bromide 15mg tablets112£103.66
Quetiapine 300mg tablets60£8.99
Ramipril 2.5mg tablets28£4.86
Ropinirole 2mg tablets28£21.48
Ropinirole 500microgram tablets28£11.15
Sitagliptin 100mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£31.01
Tadalafil 5mg tablets28£8.25
Telmisartan 80mg tablets28£11.02
Temazepam 10mg tablets28£24.67
Terbinafine 250mg tablets14£3.50

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
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI issued guidance dated 18 December 2024 detailing upcoming changes under Windsor Framework arrangements from 1 January 2025.  This was covered in the contractor update of that date which is replicated below.

Background

The Windsor Framework sets out the long-term arrangements for the supply of medicines into Northern Ireland. It will ensure that human medicines can be approved and licensed on a UK-wide basis by the UK competent authority, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and provides for the disapplication of EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) safety features for medicines marketed and supplied in NI.

The guidance covers topics including:

  • Changes to Medicine Authorisations
  • EU FMD which will no longer apply in NI from 1 January 2025
  • Labelling and Packaging

The guidance also contains links to other supporting documents, and pharmacy contractors may find the section on FAQs particularly helpful.

Action

Contractors are asked to:

  • Note the recent correspondence detailing the upcoming changes under Windsor Framework arrangements (including FMD) from 1 January 2025;
  • Note the additional guidance which is linked to the letter and, in particular, the FAQs which can be found here; and
  • Ensure that all relevant dispensary staff are made aware of the arrangements.

If you have any queries, please direct them in the first instance to mrg_inspectors@health-ni.gov.uk.

CPNI colleagues are also here to help you.

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Contractor
The Department of Health’s Head of Medicines Regulatory Group, and the Controlled Drug Accountable Officer, have issued correspondence dated 23 December 2024 to provide guidance on the correct procedures for obtaining stocks of medicines and controlled drugs.

SUMMARY

The correspondence gives guidance on the following:

  • How GPs, including locums on the PMPL, may requisition medicines including CDs for health service stock using HS21S forms.
  • Requisition of stock for health service out-of-hours organisations.
  • Requisition of stock for non-health service (private) stock.
  • Actions and requirements for GPs.
  • Actions and requirements for Community Pharmacists.

Action

Contractors are asked to:

  • Note the recent DoH correspondence issued detailing guidance of the correct procedures for obtaining stocks of medicines and controlled drugs.
  • Ensure that the information and correspondence is shared with all relevant pharmacy staff.

If you have any queries, please direct them in the first instance to your SPPG Pharmacy Advisor or an MRG inspector. CPNI colleagues are also here to help you.

Kind Regards,

SENT ON BEHALF OF
Gerard Greene
Chief Executive