A letter from Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer, dated 19 December 2024 has been uploaded to the primary care intranet. This advises that the Department of Health in Northern Ireland has now joined with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in England and introduced an indefinite UK-wide order to prevent new patients aged under 18 from beginning to take gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues (“puberty blockers”) for the purposes of gender incongruence and/or gender dysphoria, under the care of private prescribers.
SUMMARY
This indefinite order will replace the UK’s existing emergency temporary restrictions on the use of GnRH analogues, which are due to expire on 31 December 2024. This indefinite ban will come into operation from 1 January 2025 and will be subject to review in 2027. These arrangements will further apply to the prescribing and supply of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues – medicines that consist of, or contain, buserelin, gonadorelin, goserelin, leuprorelin acetate, nafarelin or triptorelin.
Who will be less affected but may need advice and reassurance
Support for children and young people affected by this change
Further advice for healthcare professionals in Northern Ireland
ACTION
Contractors should:
Read and note the contents of the CMO letter and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Department of Health NI. Members of the CPNI team are also available for advice.
Kind regards,
Mike
SENT ON BEHALF OF PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY Head of Regulatory Affairs
Dear Colleague
CPNI has been liaising with BSO and DOH(NI) colleagues in relation to various issues that have been reported to us by contractors, and we can provide the following update:
Water for Irrigation 1L CPNI has been monitoring water for irrigation 1L reimbursement prices due to significant volatility with regards to pricing and stock availability in NI. CPNI has been liaising with BSO colleagues and can confirm the following reimbursement price: December 2024: Drug Tariff Price £2.34 for 1L
Chloraprep solution 26ml applicators The current reimbursement price is £32.73. DoH(NI) colleagues are currently working with the manufacturer to discuss ongoing supply post January 2025. CPNI will continue to keep contractors updated in this regard.
Common Disallowed Items
Contractors have been providing CPNI with useful information regarding some common disallowed items.
The following excel spreadsheet is available for contractors to review. Please note: there may be only certain packs sizes that are disallowed.
If any contractor wishes to add to this list, please email Clare Hunter at CPNI offices so that this list may be updated and shared with the network accordingly.
Special Containers
There is no special endorsement required when coding for a special container. Pharmacy teams should code for the appropriate number of full packs or sub-packs dispensed.
These prescription forms should be placed into the appropriate amended bundle when submitting to BSO for payment.
In the case where the item does not have a code but is a special container, the item should be diamonded and the quantity claimed endorsed on to the main body of the prescription.
These prescription forms must be placed in the amended bundle when submitting to BSO for payment.
Further information on special containers can be found here.
Sertraline 100mg/5ml concentrate oral solution sugar fee 60ml Sertraline 100mg/5ml concentrate oral solution sugar free 60ml is listed as two products in the codebook:
Alliance Healthcare
Thame Laboratories
Both products have different codes with differing reimbursement prices. CPNI have spoken with SPPG colleagues regarding this and they have provided the following information:
Contractors and their pharmacy teams are advised to code for the product that has been dispensed and place the prescription into the fully coded bundle.
If the pharmacist has sourced a different manufacturer than that listed in the NI codebook, the prescription should be diamonded with an invoice attached for payment by BSO.
Contractors who have paid an inflated price for either the Alliance Healthcare or Thame Laboratories product are asked to provide CPNI with a copy of the invoices so that we may liaise with SPPG colleagues.
The same principles will also apply to sertraline 50mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free 150ml.
Please continue to notify CPNI of any pricing issues you are experiencing via our Medicine Shortage Reporter.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
For the attention of those contractors who have are offering the Pharmacy First Sore Throat Service Winter 24/25
Dear Contractor
The Pharmacy First Sore Throat Service launched on 1 December 2024 for two months initially.
Live training was provided at an ECHO session which has been recorded and is available to view on the ECHO Moodle site for those who were unable to attend the live session.
All resources in relation to the service including promotional material is available on the BSO website. Service posters should have been provided by SPPG and should be displayed in the pharmacy.
Social cards to be used on social media platforms include:
CPNI have developed a training PowerPoint presentation that can be accessed on the CPNI website under Pharmacy First for Sore Throat to further aid contractors and pharmacists in offering the service.
If you require any further information on the Pharmacy First Sore Throat Service Winter 24/25 please contact CPNI offices.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor,
Correspondence has been issued today by SPPG regarding community pharmacy rota remuneration.
SUMMARY
A review of community pharmacy rota remuneration has been carried out by SPPG in conjunction with CPNI and recurrent rates have been set effective from 1st December 2024.
Weekday rota hourly rate: £108
Sunday rota hourly rate: £250
Public holiday rota hourly rate: £500
SPPG request that rota claims are submitted in a timely manner and should be included with your second monthly submission to BSO.
Going forward, pharmacies that provide a public holiday rota should submit a claim form to BSO for payment.
Review the SPPG correspondence issued today regarding community pharmacy rota remuneration.
Contact local SPPG offices for further information regarding this correspondence.
CPNI colleagues are also available to assist with any queries.
Yours sincerely,
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has issued guidance dated 18 December 2024 detailing upcoming changes under Windsor Framework arrangements from 1 January 2025.
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.
WhatsApp Business Terms of Service can be found here and privacy policy hereUCA-NI Privacy Policy We take your privacy seriously and do not share or sell any personal details with third parties for commercial purposes. If you have any questions, please contact the CPNI office. You can withdraw your consent to be contacted at any time by calling 028 9069 0444 or by emailing info@communitypharmacyni.co.uk. CPNI Data Protection Policy and Data Retention policy can be found Click Here
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