For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Autumn 2024 COVID-19 Community Pharmacy Vaccine Service
Dear Colleague

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.

CPNI ALERTS

DOH(NI) ALERTS

BSO ALERTS

Transforming Medication Safety: Project Echo, Health Literacy Session

Community Pharmacists are invited to attend a Project Echo event on Wednesday 16th October 2024 at 10-11.30am.

The session ‘No Decision About Me Without Me’ is an opportunity to learn from leading names in Health Literacy which is an important aspect of medication safety.

To register for this event click the following link.

Living Well Service

The Living Well Campaign ‘Live Longer and Stronger’ is due to end on 30th September 2024.

The next campaign ‘Sexual Health’ will begin on 1st October 2024 and online resource materials can be found here.

An evaluation summary report for ‘Cancer screening saves lives’ showing the patient engagement and real-life examples of interventions through the Living Well service can be seen here on the BSO website.

CPNI Fax Machine

We wish to make contractors aware that CPNI offices can no longer receive communication via the fax machine, contractors can continue to contact the office via email or telephone at 028 9069 0444.

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
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

  • Community Pharmacies that are intending to vaccinate care homes this Autumn are requested to complete the online pairing survey by Friday 27th September 2024.
  • Any outstanding CPVS contracts for both Flu and COVID-19 vaccination are requested to be submitted by Friday 27th September 2024.
  • Movianto are currently processing orders for care home vaccination providers, and pharmacies providing a walk-in service can order vaccines from Monday 30th September 2024.
  • Current turnaround time for orders is up to 5 working days for delivery which should be factored in when planning clinics. Order quantities are requested to not exceed two weeks of activity.
  • The only authorised vaccine for COVID-19 is Comirnaty® JN.1 (30mcg/dose) dispersion for injection, please note the adult dose is 0.3ml.
  • RSV vaccination of 75-79 year old care home residents is being carried out by Trust vaccination teams. Whilst there is no specific interval between the administration of RSV and COVID-19 or Flu vaccine, they should not be routinely administered on the same appointment or same day. This should be considered when arranging vaccinations with care homes, walk-in patients aged 75-79 years old, and pregnant women.

ACTION

Contractors providing the service should:

Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office should you require any further information.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
This is a reminder that there is currently a pilot for out of pocket expenses on laryngectomy and tracheostomy products. The pilot has been extended for a further six months.
CPNI would encourage contractors and their teams to submit claims for eligible products under this pilot.
Dear Contractor

Information regarding a pilot for out of pocket expenses for laryngectomy and tracheostomy products has been issued by BSO 25th January 2024.

SUMMARY

  • Laryngectomy and tracheostomy products are appliances included in Part III (f) of the NIDT.
  • Whilst these products are initiated in secondary care, the supply route is currently from community pharmacies via a HS21 issued by GP practices.
  • CPNI have highlighted to BSO that pharmacies are dispensing these products at considerable financial loss as currently out-of-pocket expenses cannot be claimed.
  • A pilot will run for 6 months initially (February to July 2024) which will allow out-of-pocket expenses to be claimed for these items. This pilot has been extended for a further 6 months.

ACTION

  • Contractors should read and review the correspondence issued 25th January 2024 by BSO.
  • During the pilot period, for any claims of out-of-pocket expenses for items in Part III (f) of NIDT, prescriptions should be submitted in the uncoded/part-coded bundle with the item diamonded.
  • The invoice for the item must be attached, and the serial number of the prescription should be endorsed on the attached invoice.
  • The prescription should be endorsed with the out-of-pocket claim, along with the endorsement Part III (f) pilot. An example of this is attached within the correspondence.
  • Prescriptions issued before February 2024 will not be included within the pilot even if submitted within the February 2024 prescription submission.
  • Please share this information with all relevant team members.
  • Any queries should be directed to mark.nelson@hscni.net or  Edward.Ashby@hscni.net

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Reminder: All Stop Smoking 4 and 52 week follow-up consultations that have not expired, i.e. within 12 months, are eligible to be claimed for and must be uploaded on to the Elite system before Friday 27th September 2024.
Dear Colleague
Correspondence dated 30th August 2024 regarding the Community Pharmacy Stop Smoking Service has been issued by the PHA.

SUMMARY

  • The delivery of Stop Smoking Services across Northern Ireland has contributed to the reduction of smoking prevalence to 14%.
  • In the coming months, the PHA will be linking closely with all Stop Smoking Service providers to ensure the service continues to be of high quality and fit for purpose.
  • From 14th October 2024, the PHA and SPPG will be undertaking a data review of Stop Smoking Services that were delivered between 1st April 2023-31st March 2024
  • This review will aim to demonstrate that the work of Community Pharmacy is accurately reported, and is delivered in line with best practice.
  • The PHA are asking that all Stop Smoking client data is accurately uploaded onto the electronic monitoring system before Friday 27th September 2024.
  • All 4 and 52 week follow-ups that have not expired, i.e. within 12 months, are eligible to be claimed for.
  • The PHA/SPPG may contact some service providers at a later date to discuss service activity and PV1 activity for this period.
  • The PHA wish to remind Stop Smoking Service providers that the Quality Standards for Stop Smoking Services in NI, require carbon monoxide validation for all clients at the 4 week follow-up. This is an area which has been identified as requiring improvement and will be monitored as part of the quality improvement process.

ACTION

Contractors should:

Any queries regarding this letter can be directed to PHATobaccoAdmin@hscni.net

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
SPPG have issued correspondence on 24th September providing further information regarding the COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza vaccination programme for Autumn 24.

Summary

  • Details of the COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza vaccination programme for Autumn 2024 have been finalised.
  • The service specification and associated service documents are now available on the BSO website.

Action

  • Review the SPPG correspondence and bring to the attention of relevant members within your pharmacy team.
  • The vaccination service documentation for the Autumn 2024 programme can now be viewed on the BSO website.

Should you have any queries in relation to this, please contact a member of the CPNI team.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive