The Department of Health’s Controlled Drug Accountable Officer (CDAO) has issued correspondence dated 16 December 2024 in respect of a planned change to the process for notifying the CDAO of controlled drugs concerns and incidents. The documents can be accessed here and here.
On 6 January 2025, it is planned that the CDAO notification process will move to an online reporting mechanism specifically for Northern Ireland which is available at www.cdreporting.co.uk.
Action
Contractors are asked to:
Note the recent correspondence detailing the new online reporting system;
Note that the new reporting system was covered in an ECHO session on the 19 November 2024 and is available to watch again at Dashboard | Project ECHO, and that a guide is also appended to the CDAO letter; and
Ensure that all relevant dispensary staff are made aware of the new system.
If you have any queries, please direct them in the first instance to SPPGCDOccurrence@hscni.net. CPNI colleagues are also here to help you.
Kind regards
Mike
SENT ON BEHALF OF PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY Head of Regulatory Affairs
For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Autumn 2024 COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service
Dear Colleague
SPPG have issued correspondence providing an update in relation to the Autumn 2024 COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza vaccination programme.
SUMMARY
The target date of 6 December 2024 for completion of care home vaccinations has now passed. Any outstanding vaccination records should be added to VMS as soon as possible to ensure clinical governance and to provide assurance to the PHA and DoH that residents are vaccinated.
The CPVS service specification states: ‘A vaccination record should be made on VMS on the same date as the vaccination’. Payment is based on the record being added to the system.
High-risk poultry and avian animal health workers are eligible for the flu vaccination this Autumn 2024 and have been added to the list of eligible cohorts. Further information can be found in the CMO letter here.
VMS has been updated to include the option of ‘bird culler’ when selecting patient risk category.
The vaccination download report on VMS has been updated to only include records from the past 18 months. All patient records and vaccination history will still be visible on VMS and will not be affected by this change.
The correspondence includes the schedule for Movianto over the Christmas holidays. The last delivery dates before Christmas and New Year will be 24th December 2024 and 31st December 2024. Orders should be placed in a timely manner.
Due to annual stock taking at Movianto, orders for Flu vaccines only, that are needed for 31st December 2024 will need to be placed by 10am on Monday 30th December 2024. NB: Any orders that include Covid vaccines will need to be placed on Tuesday 24th December to be delivered by 31st December 2024.
ACTION
Contractors providing the service should:
Read CPVS Update Four and share will all relevant teams members.
Chronic Underfunding in the Northern Ireland Community Pharmacy Sector Raised Directly with UK Government
A delegation has travelled to London to seek UK Government NIO Minister Fleur Anderson MP’s support for vital community pharmacy services that are in financial crisis and at risk of collapse in Northern Ireland.
Representatives from Community Pharmacy NI (CPNI), including local pharmacy owners were led by Ulster Unionist peer Lord Rogan as they met the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to seek stabilisation of the community pharmacy network. Further information is available at the link below:
Reminder: Any contractor who has yet to submit the MS forms relating to the refresh of handheld scanners to SPPG, still have an opportunity to do so. If a pharmacy or Head Office has not received SPPG correspondence to their secure email address regarding this, please contact local integrated care offices.
Dear Contractor
SUMMARY
SPPG have issued correspondence regarding the refresh of handheld barcode scanners within community pharmacy. Each Head Office/pharmacy should now have received an email from SPPG which includes a Microsoft Forms link to complete. This should be submitted by Friday 6th December 2024.
ACTION
Please check that you have received this correspondence from SPPG and that you submit the information requested in the MS forms link by the deadline stated.
Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI if you require any further information.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
REMINDER: Contractors who are providing the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat Winter 24/25 must submit a contract to SPPG in order to be paid for the service.
Dear Contractor
Correspondence has been issued 13 November 2024 regarding the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat.
SUMMARY
The Pharmacy First Sore Throat Service will launch on 1 December 2024 for two months initially.
Pharmacy contractors meeting the service specification are eligible to offer the service and must submit an electronic contract to notify SPPG of the intention to provide the service.
NB there is no requirement to return a signed copy of the contract.
Pharmacies that provided the pilot service last year should familiarise themselves with the revised service specification and guidance and must submit a new contract to provide the service for Winter 24/25.
Live training was provided at an ECHO session which has been recorded and is now available to view on the ECHO Moodle site for those unable to attend the live session.
For any issues with accessing the training please contact Elaine Kane at e.kane@hospiceuk.org or 02895582393.
A copy of the presentation slides are available at the BSO website.
All resources in relation to the service including promotional material will be available on the BSO website. Service posters will be provided by SPPG and should be displayed in the pharmacy.
The fees payable to pharmacy contractors for this service are:
A one-off service set-up payment of £200 per pharmacy contractor.
A consultation fee of £32 per consultation. This includes the cost of RADTs and other consumables.
The cost of the medicine supplied will be reimbursed on submission of prescriptions or pharmacy vouchers to BSO.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to read the correspondence issued by SPPG regarding the Pharmacy First Service for Sore Throat Winter 2024/25 and share with all relevant members of the team.
Those pharmacy contractors who have applied to offer the Pharmacy First Sore Throat Service are requested to return an electronic contract using the following link.
Please contact your Pharmacy Advisor if you have any queries regarding this letter.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
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