Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
For the Attention of Community Pharmacies Currently Providing the Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) Service
Dear Colleague
SPPG have issued correspondence on 10 April 2025 regarding the community pharmacy OST service.
SUMMARY
A new contract for the community pharmacy OST service is being implemented from April 2025.
The contract will further enhance governance arrangements for the delivery of the OST service and ensure timely payment of the retainer fee.
Pharmacies that currently dispense OST prescriptions are asked to submit a new contract using the MS forms link by 25 April 2025.
Service documentation including the new service specification and relevant resources are available on the BSO website here.
Pharmacy staff involved in the provision of the OST service are asked to ensure they are familiar with the necessary resources in line with the service specification and contract.
The NICPLD live webinar ‘Opioid Substitution Therapy‘ is scheduled for 21 May 2025, and will be recorded for those unable to attend.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to
Review the correspondence issued by SPPG on 10 April 2025 and share with all relevant team members.
Complete a new contract for the OST service by 25 April 2025.
Please note: Those pharmacies who have already completed a new OST service contract recently do not need to resubmit.
Please contact Michael McCabe (michael.mccabe@hscni.net), Pharmacy Adviser if you have any further queries.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
CPNI issued updates on 10 March 2025, 24 March 2025 and 2 April 2025 regarding the NICPLD Independent Prescribing (IP) training application process and the funding available to support community pharmacists in obtaining a DPP. The closing date for community pharmacist IP applications is 15 April 2025.
SUMMARY
Community pharmacists who wish to apply for the NICPLD Independent Prescribing (IP) course can submit applications up to 15 April 2025.
A recorded webinar for prospective applicants or DPPs is available here.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to note the information provided above and share with relevant members of the team.
Queries on the DPP support scheme can be sent to Nicpld-prescribing@qub.ac.uk. Alternatively, please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI team or email Ennis.
CPNI was not provided with an opportunity to view, provide comments or seek specific legal opinion on the FTY Terms of Participation prior to its being published on the NICPLD website yesterday.
CPNI has subsequently commenced a review of the documentation and will provide contractors with an update in due course.
NICPLD has stated that the “opt-in” window for FTY will be open from 9 April 2025 to 25 April 2025.
ACTION
CPNI would urge any contractors who are considering participation in the FTY 2026/2027 programme to take the following steps prior to “opting-in”:
Take time to review, consider, and where necessary take advice on, the FTY Webinar and all associated documentation including (but not limited to):
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI team or email Ennis.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
CPNI wishes to draw attention to important information relating to the Foundation Training Year 2026/2027 which was published on the NICPLD website today at approx. 1.30pm.
SUMMARY
The FTY 2026/2027 Terms of Participation and other relevant documents are now available here.
CPNI has not had an opportunity to view, provide comments or seek specific legal opinion on the FTY Terms of Participation prior to its being published on the NICPLD website today.
CPNI understands that contractors will be invited to “opt-in” to participating in FTY 2026/2027 from tomorrow. The “opt-in” window will remain open from 9 April 2025 to 25 April 2025.
ACTION
CPNI would urge any contractors who are considering participation in the FTY 2026/2027 programme to:
Prior to making any decision to “Opt-in” take time to review and seek any necessary HR or legal advice on the FTY documentation now available on the NICPLD website, including the
Note that other relevant documents such as the finalised curriculum for FTY 2026/2027, and NICPLD SOPs for the delivery and quality monitoring of the programme are not yet available to employers and are not likely to be finalised until a later stage, after which employers may have already “opted-in”.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI team or email Ennis.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
FTY 2026/2027 NICPLD Webinar Tuesday 8th April 2025
Dear Contractor
This update provides further information for consideration by contractors and pharmacists in relation to the provision of Foundation Training Year (FTY) placements in 2026/27.CPNI issued previous updates on FTY 2026/2027 on 25 March 2025 and 2 April 2025.
SUMMARY
NICPLD has issued correspondence inviting contractors and pharmacists to an information Webinar on 8 April 2025, 7-8pm.
Community pharmacies will be invited to “opt-in” to the FTY 2026/27 process between 9 – 25 April 2025.
CPNI would encourage any contractor considering participation to attend the Webinar and then take the necessary time to review and consider:
The new joint selection, recruitment and admission process. Note: NICPLD outline is available here.
The Terms of Participation. Note: The Terms have not yet been shared with CPNI or contractors.
The FTY Framework and Curriculum. Note: The 2026/2027 documents are not yet available, however the 2025/2026 documents can be viewed on the NICPLD website here.
REMINDER
FTY 2026/2027 will involve a joint selection, recruitment and admission process. See CPNI updates sent on 25 March 2025 and 2 April 2025 for further information.
Community pharmacy employers will no longer be able to interview or select their FTY trainee, as the trainee will be allocated by the NICPLD process.
Once allocated, the community pharmacy will be the trainee’s employer for their placement and will have all the associated employer obligations such as pre-employment checks and making any adjustments in line with the Disability Discrimination Act.
Additionally, FTY employers will be required to agree to a Terms of Participation agreement with NICPLD.
CPNI has not yet been provided with an opportunity to review the proposed Terms of Participation and as such there are aspects which we would wish to discuss further and seek advice on.
ACTION
Contractors considering involvement in FTY 2026/2027 are encouraged to attend the NICPLD Webinar on 8 April 2025.
CPNI asks that contractors consider deferring any decision to ‘opt-in’ to the FTY process until CPNI has had an opportunity to review the necessary information relating to the new joint 2026/27 FTY selection, recruitment and admission process, the Terms of Participation (yet to be shared by NICPLD), and the FTY Framework. This will enable CPNI to provide a further update to contractors in advance of the 25 April 2025 “opt-in” closing date.
NICPLD has indicated that employers can ask questions during the webinar, or can send queries in advance to nicpld-fty@qub.ac.uk.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI team or email Ennis.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
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