Archives: Contractor Email

For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Autumn 2024 Seasonal Influenza Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service (CPVS)
Dear Contractor

SPPG have issued an update on 24 October 2024 regarding an extension to the seasonal influenza vaccination programme 2024/2025.

  • The update references recent correspondence that was issued by the Chief Medical Officer regarding an extension to the eligible cohorts for seasonal influenza vaccination 2024/25.
  • An extension of the offer of influenza vaccination has been granted to all Health and Social Care staff that work directly for an HSC organisation or independent contractor providing and/or delivering services on behalf of the HSC Trusts.
  • Further detail can be found within the CMO correspondence issued on 21 October 2024.

For any queries regarding the content of this update, please contact CPNI offices.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Contractor

The Cyber Crime lead in Northern Ireland has highlighted another example of Phishing activity which has been reported in Northern Ireland.

While examples such as this may be not uncommon and URLS change frequently, the images detailed below may be of a kind that end-users see over coming days.

Action

Contractors are asked to note:

  1. The alert from the Cyber Crime Centre, and to ensure that their teams are aware that this is a variation of phishing email scams.
  2. That businesses can obtain advice on safeguarding against phishing attacks at www.ncsc.gov.uk/phishing.
  3. That Cyber Crime can be reported to Action Fraud 24/7 at www.actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040.

Further information can be accessed via the links on the Cyber Protect webpage HERE.

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Colleague
The second update of concessionary prices were granted today for October 2024:
DrugPack SizeConcessionary Price
Agomelatine 25mg tablets28£13.50
Amitriptyline 50mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£17.13
Ascorbic acid 100mg tablets28£36.96
Ascorbic acid 200mg tablets28£55.90
Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream100£7.09
Brimonidine 0.2% eye drops5£2.85
Bromocriptine 2.5mg tablets30£66.37
Chloramphenicol 1% eye ointment4£3.68
Cinacalcet 30mg tablets28£7.77
Colecalciferol 1,000unit capsules30£6.62
Co-tenidone 50mg/12.5mg tablets28£6.20
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops 0.2ml unit dose preservative free60£21.60
Fenofibrate micronised 200mg capsules28£3.83
Glimepiride 4mg tablets30£1.19
Isotretinoin 20mg capsules30£12.99
Naproxen 250mg gastro-resistant tablets56£7.43
Naproxen 500mg gastro-resistant tablets56£18.29
Perindopril erbumine 2mg tablets30£1.37
Perindopril erbumine 4mg tablets30£1.96
Perindopril erbumine 8mg tablets30£3.90
Pregabalin 75mg capsules56£2.65
Quetiapine 200mg tablets60£16.47
Ropinirole 2mg tablets28£26.09
Tadalafil 5mg tablets28£8.25
Travoprost 40micrograms/ml / timolol 5mg/ml eye drops2.5£10.59

Concessionary prices will be paid against the usual code, no additional endorsements are needed.

Please continue to notify CPNI of any pricing issues you are experiencing via our Medicine Shortage Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Contractor

In response to the interest shown in the three upcoming workshops aimed at outlining the outworkings of the Windsor Framework and the implications for community pharmacy here, NICPLD has increased the number of spaces available.

Contractors are urged to ensure that appropriate member(s) of their dispensary teams attend one of these sessions which will also include discussions on supply against EEA prescriptions and the movement of medicines to and from Northern Ireland.

You may be aware of some media attention over the weekend in respect of medicines availability following the proposed introduction of the Windsor Framework measures. These meetings will offer the opportunity to get clarification from Department and MHRA officials on this.

Background

The implementation of the Windsor Framework (WF) from 1 January 2025 will have implications for the medicines supply chain across the United Kingdom and in Northern Ireland in particular. The outworkings of the Framework will introduce new packaging and licensing arrangements for medicines placed on the Northern Ireland market and will have implications for the Falsified Medicines Directive.

NICPLD has arranged three workshops for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to be hosted by a range of experts in the field of medicines regulation.

Details

Workshops are offered as follows:

  • 22nd October 2024, Riddel Hall, Belfast
  • 23rd October 2024, City Hotel, Armagh
  • 24th October 2024, City Hotel, Derry/Londonderry

Register now at NICPLD: Workshops

Speakers

  • Canice Ward: Head of Medicines Regulatory Group, Department of Health
  • Sean Curley: Principal Pharmaceutical Officer, Department of Health
  • Catherine Lenihan: Head of Regulatory Reform, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
  • Fionn Craig: Deputy Director of EU Regulations, Devolution and the Union, Department of Health and Social Care
  • Noah Thorold: Northern Ireland, Gibraltar and Crown Dependencies Policy, Department of Health and Social Care
  • Maria Jones: Policy Lead on Medicines Regulatory Policy Northern Ireland – Windsor Framework, Department of Health and Social Care

Aim

To enable pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to understand the implications the Windsor Framework Agreement will have on medicines and the pharmacy sector from 1 January 2025.

Learning Outcomes

Having attended this workshop, you will be able to understand:

  • The new packaging and licensing arrangements for medicines placed on the Northern Ireland market from 1 January 2025
  • The implication of the Windsor Framework Agreement on the EU Falsified Medicines Directive
  • The supply of medicines using prescriptions from EEA prescribers from NI pharmacies
  • Changes to the supply of medicines to and from NI from 1 January 2025
  • How to raise potential concerns about any future EU legislation that may have an impact on pharmacy and medicine supplies in NI.

Summary

It is important that contractors and their teams are prepared for the implementation of the Windsor Framework on 1 January 2025, and contractors are asked to:

  • Note the workshops being offered
  • Try to ensure that appropriate member(s) from their dispensary teams attend one of these sessions.

CPNI colleagues are available to discuss any aspects of the new arrangements. Any questions relating to the venues should be directed to the NICPLD team.

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence dated 18 October 2024 extending the expiry date of SSP074, relating to isosorbide mononitrate preparation Monomax XL 60mg tablets, to Friday 15 November 2024.

BACKGROUND

  • SSPs made under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 are an additional tool to manage and mitigate medicines shortages.
  • SSPs enable community pharmacists to supply specified medicines in accordance with a protocol rather than a prescription, without needing to seek authorisation from the prescriber – saving time for patients, pharmacists and prescribers.
  • Pharmacists should refer to the latest versions of the existing SSPs which are now available on the Business Services Organisation dedicated page on its website HERE.
  • Operational guidance on the implementation of SSPs in Northern Ireland can be found on the BSO website HERE.

ACTION

Contractors should:

  • Review the letter dated 18 October 2024 here, and ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of the specific details relating to this SSP;
  • Note guidance relating to the decision pathways for SSPs; notification of GPs; the need for patient/carer agreement, and action to take when this is not given; professional judgement; and actions regarding unclear quantities.

Contractors should contact their local SPPG office in the first instance should further information be required. CPNI colleagues are also available for assistance.

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.

CPNI ALERTS

DOH(NI) ALERTS

BSO ALERTS

Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s Contractor Calendar and Contractor Emails.
Or report medicine shortages, pricing and staffing issues via CPNI’s Medicine Shortage Reporter and Situation Reporter.
Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
Gerard Greene
Chief Executive