Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor

Canice Ward, Head of MRG, DH has issued a letter in respect of the annual controlled drug declaration and self-assessment.

As you know, these have been mandated since 2009 and previously were in hard copy.

From the 2021 reporting year, the form is now online.  This should be easier to complete and will allow responses to be viewed by the inspectorate without the need to visit your premises, which is to be welcomed during the pandemic period.  The form can be accessed at HERE. 

ACTION

Contractors are asked to: 

  1. Make their dispensary teams aware of the content of the letter and of the on-line form and
  2. Ensure that it is completed and returned online by 31 March 2021.

If you have any queries, regarding the completion of the questionnaire, please contact;

  • Sean Curley (02890528627) sean.curley@health-ni.gov.uk,
  • Aaron McKendry (02890 528628) aaron.mckendry@health-ni.gov.uk or
  • Michelle Keatings (02890 520230) michelle.keatings@health-ni.gov.uk.

Colleagues in CPNI will continue to assist you with these matters.

Kind regards Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF Prof Mike Mawhinney
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Colleague
As you know, from 1 January 2021, the Northern Ireland Protocol came into force, as a result of which the movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland became subject to new checks and controls. As a result, concerns had been raised with CPNI in respect of possible delays on the importation into Northern Ireland of some nutritional feeds and baby formulas.

The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs has issued guidance indicating that the grace period from most official certification requirements (such as export health certificates, phytosanitary certificates or marketing standards certification) which was agreed in December 2020 for products of animal origin, composite products, food and feed of non-animal origin and plants and plant products will now be extended until 1 October 2021.

ACTION

Contractors are asked to:

  • Note the extension of the grace period and
  • Report any delays with associated products which occur before the end of the grace period to the Drug Tariff Co-Ordinator, veranne.lynch@hscni.net.

Colleagues at CPNI will continue to support you in these matters.

Kind regards – Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Colleague

HSCB has issued correspondence in respect of the COVID-19 Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service (COVID-CPVS) including;

ACTION

Contractors are asked to:

  1. Read the above correspondence and associated documentation.
  2. Note that indemnity arrangements and aspects of the funding arrangements for this service are still to be finalised.
  3. Retain a copy of the service specification and contract until such times that the indemnity and remuneration arrangements are confirmed with you. Only after confirmation is provided to you that the indemnity and remuneration aspects have been agreed and put in place for this service should you sign and return, via email, the COVID-CPVS Contract to local HSCB offices.

CPNI will provide further updates to you in relation to this service as well as the indemnity and remuneration arrangements as soon as they become available.

Contractors are advised to contact either;

  • Chris Blayney (chris.blayney@hscni.net) or
  • Greg Miller (greg.miller@hscni.net).

Regarding queries at this stage in relation to this service.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

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

Dear Colleague

In today’s update:

  1. Weekly drug alerts, shortages information, serious shortage protocol and supply disruption alert.
  2. Community Pharmacy COVID-19 Vaccine Booking Systems.
  3. Contractor updates Ask For ANI Codeword Scheme, COVID-19 Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service and a Reminder To Report Medicines Shortages And Supply Chain Issues To CPNI.
  4. Northern Ireland Medicines Management newsletter.

BSO ALERTS 

CPNI ALERTS

DoH ALERTS

HSCB ALERTS

Pharmacy Forum NI 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 or pricing issues via the CPNI’s Medicine Shortage Reporter.

Many thanks, stay safe – Gareth

SENT ON BEHALF OF DR. GARETH C. GILVARY
Governance & Support Pharmacist

Dear Colleague

You will be aware of the attached correspondence issued by HSCB and the CPNI Contractor Update in relation to the Community Pharmacy COVID Vaccination service, both issued on Wednesday 3 March.

I write to advise you that CPNI is actively investigating the development of an online COVID booking platform option that could assist Contractors to manage requests for COVID vaccinations. The intention then would be that CPNI could sign-post Contractors to the provider of a bespoke online COVID Vaccination Booking System that could be used by community pharmacies providing the COVID vaccination service.

CPNI is seeking to fast-track this option for Contractors given the commencement of the Community Pharmacy COVID Vaccination service later this month. To further assist you a Contractor meeting will be arranged in advance of the service commencement to provide a further update in relation to the Community Pharmacy COVID Vaccination service, as well as providing further information on the proposed COVID Vaccination Booking System.

To assist in the development of a bespoke Vaccination Booking System for community pharmacy we will write to Contractors separately to obtain consent for the names and addresses of those pharmacies that will be providing COVID Vaccination services to be shared with the software developer.

The provision of the COVID vaccination services from the Northern Ireland Community Pharmacy sector is an exciting development, one that will further enhance the professional service offering to patients and the health service and it is to be very much welcomed.

Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI offices should you require any additional information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Colleague

Community pharmacy has been recognised as an important provider in the delivery of the UK-wide Ask for ANI (Action Needed Immediately) Codeword Scheme which was launched earlier this year. The scheme enables victims of domestic abuse to access support within their community, from the safety of their local pharmacy.

I would invite contractors who haven’t yet had the opportunity to find out more about the scheme to access further information, including training materials and posters at the these links (Ask for ANI materials / Ask for ANI & Safe Spaces materials).

Contractors who would like to provide the scheme can complete an online form to confirm their decision and to ensure that staff watch the training animation and read the guidance.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive