MRG and HSCB have issued jointly issued a reminder to contractors to forward to the BSO all private prescriptions and stock requisitions for S2 and S3 CDs, and to retain private prescriptions and requisitions for S4 and S5 CDs in the pharmacy.
The letter also reminds contractors of the need to exercise caution when dispensing prescriptions for CDs and to have in place, and adhere to, standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the dispensing services they provide, for both HSC (HS21) and private prescriptions.
ACTION
Contractors are advised to:
Note the content of the letter, advise their dispensary teams and ensure that proper procedures are in place and are being followed.
Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s). Colleagues in CPNI will continue to keep you up to date on these matters.
Kind regards – Mike
SENT ON BEHALF OFProf Mike Mawhinney Head of Regulatory Affairs
Dear Colleague
Please find correspondence here for your attention, from Kathryn Turner, Pharmacy Lead, Health and Social Care Board.
SUMMARY
The HSCB in agreement with CPNI are considering launching a Community Pharmacy COVID-19 Vaccination Service initially using the AstraZenecaCOVID-19 Vaccine.
The HSCB is seeking expressions of interest from pharmacy contractors wishing to participate in this service.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to review the correspondence.
If interested in provision of a Community Pharmacy COVID-19 Vaccination Service initially using the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine, please complete the expression of interest form hereas Annex A and return to local offices.
If you have any queries please in relation to this service contact either: Chris Blayney (chris.blayney@hscni.net) or Greg Miller (greg.miller@hscni.net).
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OFGERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
As you know, from 1 January 2021, medicines in Northern Ireland (NI) continue to be aligned with EU regulation and legislation as a requisite of the NI Protocol. This includes the requirement for NI to continue to comply with the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) and to continue to verify and decommission medicines at the end point of supply. The UK MVS (medicines verification system) became the UKNI MVS from 1st January 2021.
SecurMed UK, the not for profit organisation which set up and managed the UK national repository for the FMD safety features requirements, is continuing to support the FMD operation in Northern Ireland.
In an effort to reduce the number of alerts being generated when medicine packs with FMD security features are being scanned into the UKNI MVS, SecurMed would like to reach out to a number of contractors here about some recurrent alerts that are being generated, often because of simple issues such as having the caps lock engaged. In the first instance, the SecurMed team will contact contractors and offer advice by email.
CPNI welcomes this supportive approach by SecurMed and askes contractors to be alert for any communications from them on these issues. Further information can be found at the following links including an email address for any FMD queries.
CPNI welcomes this support and would ask contractors to:
Advise their teams of the continuing need to adhere to the requirements of FMD;
Ensure that the pharmacy is registered with SecurMed, and ensure that equipment and procedures are in place to facilitate compliance; and
Make their dispensing team aware of possible contact by the SecurMed team and to prioritise it appropriately.
The CPNI team will continue to support contractors on these matters.
Yours sincerely
Mike
SENT ON BEHALF OF Prof. Mike Mawhinney Head of Regulatory Affairs
This daily 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:
Prescription Submission to the BSO Timetable.
CFS Fraud Alert: Coronavirus Vaccine Scam Email
Weekly Drug Alerts and Serious Shortage Protocols.
The PSNI welcomes the Pharmacy Workforce Review 2020.
The PSNI Council adopts new Standards for the Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists.
BSO ALERTS
Prescription Submission to the BSO. Within the 30 day payment cycle contractors are responsible for ensuring, on a twice monthly basis, that prescriptions are submitted securely and timely to be BSO.
The timetable for these submissions are detailed in correspondence here.
HSCB ALERTS
CFS has issued correspondence warning HSC staff to remain vigilant as criminals begin to take advantage of the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine to commit fraud.
ACTION
If you are suspicious about an email you have received, forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) at report@phishing.gov.uk.
Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to the number 7726 which is free of charge.
The Pharmaceutical Society NI Council adopts new Standards for the Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists.
The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI has approved and adopted the new Standards for the Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists on the 26 January 2021 as part of the process of the joint reform of the Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists, announced on 28 July 2020.
Further information on the Foundation Training Year 2021/22 is available here.
Drug Alert, Class 3 Medicine Recall Kolanticon Gel 500ml.
CPNI ALERTS
As per our correspondence on Wed 27 Jan 2021 – see previous correspondence here. The extended flu vaccination service has commenced from Monday 11 Jan 2021 – see previous correspondence here.
Vaccination uptake is progressing well within the cohort and CPNI is keen to support the promotion of this service to the wider public.
We would ask you to please share social media posts promoting the extended service, both CPNIand HSCB resources are available.
CPNI has produced a flyer to help contractors promote the extended CPFV service, this could be attached or inserted into the prescription bags of patients aged 50-64 years, flyer can be found here.
DoH ALERTS
Serious Shortage Protocol – Fluoxetine 40mg capsules. Please find attached correspondence and SSP relating to Fluoxetine 40mg capsules, from Mrs. Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer. ECHO Session:
EU Transition Follow-up Meeting Tuesday 23 February 2021 @ 7.30pm-9.00pm. Please find attached correspondence from Mrs. Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer.
This event is a follow up to the information evenings held in December 2020 which discussed preparing for EU exit. Participants will have the opportunity to hear an update from the Department of Health EU team on issues relating to EU Exit and the Northern Ireland Protocol and also to raise questions.
PHA is urging 50-64 year old who have not yet had the free flu vaccine to get it soon. The seasonal flu vaccination programme has been extended to include those over 50, which will help protect more people from flu and relieve further pressure on the health service.
To find out what community pharmacies are participating in the flu vaccine programme click here.
BSO ALERTS
Drug Alert – Class 3 Medicine Recall – Kolanticon Gel 500ml. Please find attached correspondencerelating to Kolanticon Gel 500ml, from Mrs. Cathy Harrison, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer.
Intrapharm Laboratories Ltd has received a number of complaints that the product consistency is lumpy. The investigation has confirmed through review of the retained samples that the consistency of the complaint samples are similar and the retained samples for this batch show the same homogeneity issue.
ACTION: Stop supplying the above batch (AC0620) immediately. Quarantine all remaining stock and return it to your supplier using your supplier’s approved process.
Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).
Kind regards – stay safe – Gareth
SENT ON BEHALF OFDR. GARETH C. GILVARY
Governance & Support Pharmacist
Dear Colleague
PRELIMINARYNOTICE is hereby given that the First Annual General Meeting of the Members of the Company will be held at 8.00pm at the registered office, 5 Annadale Avenue, Belfast BT7 3JH, on Thursday 25 February 2021 for the purpose of considering the following business:
Notice of meeting.
Apologies for absence.
Directors’ Report on Company Activity in 2020.
Chairman’s Report
Report on the Summary Income Statement and Balance Sheetfor the year ended 31 October 2019.
Appointment of Auditors
Appointment of Solicitors
Closing remarks by the Chairman
AGM papers will be sent out by post on or before 15 February 2021.
Due to the current COVID restrictions the AGM will take place by ZOOM, with login details being provided in advance of the AGM.
By order of the Board
SENT ON BEHALF OFGERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
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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