Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Contractor
Please see attached correspondence from Professor Sir Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer, regarding the Autumn 2024 influenza vaccination programme.

SUMMARY

  • The correspondence details:
    • The eligible cohorts for influenza vaccination in line with the recommendations of the JCVI.
    • Community Pharmacy will play an important role in the vaccination of frontline HSC workers, patients aged 65 and over, carers, and those who are pregnant.
    • Community Pharmacy will also be able to offer influenza vaccination to all RQIA-registered care home residents and staff as part of this year’s seasonal influenza programme.
    • Community Pharmacists and those frontline staff involved in supplying medicines will be able to receive the vaccine from participating Community Pharmacies offering influenza vaccination services
    • The Movianto web-based ordering system is available to all Community Pharmacies and will facilitate simple and accurate ordering of all centrally procured seasonal influenza vaccines for the forthcoming 2024/2025 immunisation campaign.
    • The Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) will notify community pharmacies contracted to deliver the influenza vaccination programme of ordering arrangements.

ACTION

  • Contractors are asked to review the correspondence issued 13th September 2024 regarding the seasonal influenza vaccination programme.
  • SPPG are finalising the service documentation and we expect it to be issued imminently.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
REMINDER: For the attention of Community Pharmacies involved in Rota Service
Dear Contractor,

CPNI is asking those pharmacies involved in rota service to complete this data collection form.

Please return the form via email to the CPNI office   (info@communitypharmacyni.co.uk) each time you complete a rota session.

CPNI will use the information gathered to help inform rota services going forward.

Your assistance with this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards,

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Contractor

The Department of Health NI has issued correspondence dated 10 September 2024 giving details of serious shortage protocols SSP073, SSP074, SSP075 and SSP076 relating to isosorbide mononitrate 60mg preparations.

These SSPs are due to expire on various dates between 27 September 2024 and 17 January 2025.

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.
  • Operational guidance on the implementation of SSPs in Northern Ireland can be found on the BSO website.

ACTION

Contractors should ensure that their dispensary teams are aware of this update and particularly note:

  • The issuing of serious shortage protocols SSP073 – SSP076 for isosorbide mononitrate 60mg tablets;
  • That the letter provides a table outlining the SSPs, the medicine affected, the expiry dates and alternative products to be supplied;
  • That the letter also outlines the key points for these SSPs and that the full SSPs are available on the Business Services Organisation dedicated page on its website;
  • The 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

Dear colleague,

On Thursday 19th of September 2024, the NPA is holding a second day of protest for community pharmacies across the four nations – to call for a fair deal for the sector.

Community pharmacies in Northern Ireland showed a high level of support in the previous day of action in June.

To build on this momentum, the NPA has once again invited pharmacy bodies from across the UK to share information about the day with their own members.

On the day, they are asking pharmacies to:

  • Ring bells, blow a whistle or make other noises for two minutes from 9am, to sound the alarm about the crisis being faced by pharmacy;
  • Share on social media!  Use the hashtag #saveourpharmacies;
  • Turn off the lights between 9am-12noon;
  • Ask your teams to wear black;
  • Black out the windows.

The day of action is open to all community pharmacies across the UK.

Further information is available here.

CPNI supports this NPA day of action to #saveourpharmacies and we have been liaising with the NPA in relation to this. We would encourage you and your teams to participate in it on Thursday 19th September 2024.

We will be sharing Northern Ireland specific social media cards which you are invited to add to your own social media channels.

Please do not hesitate to contact your NPA representative or Jude Austin at judea@communitypharmacyni.co.uk if you require any further information.

Kind regards,

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive

Dear Contractor

Summary

The Northern Ireland Cyber Security Centre (NICSC) is offering up to 20 qualifying community pharmacy contractors in Northern Ireland the opportunity to avail of up to 20 hours free on-site expert advice to help their businesses meet the five technical controls of Cyber Essentials.

Background

Cyber Essentials is an effective, Government-backed scheme that helps protect organisations and businesses against a range of the most common cyber-attacks.

It is recognised that some sectors are at greater risk of cyber-attack than others, due often to the sensitive nature of the information with which they deal, or because they are seen as an easy target for cyber criminals. The focus of the Funded Cyber Essentials Programme is to support small businesses that have a low level of cyber maturity, that work with data that is sensitive, and that would have a significant impact if disrupted.

The programme offers eligible businesses free, hands-on help to review and assess the IT systems they operate, and to identify measures needed to reduce the risk from the most common types of cyber-attack. Support will be provided from a pool of NCSC Assured Cyber Advisors – experts assessed as not only having a knowledge and understanding of the Cyber Essentials technical controls, but who have the ability to understand and work with small organisations. These advisors will be appointed by IASME – a cyber security certification company, and the NCSC Cyber Essentials delivery partner.

How do I apply?

The application process goes live on Monday 9 September 2024 and further details on the programme and on the application process can be found on the NICSC website.

Spaces are limited and allocations will be made on a first come, first served basis for up to 20 eligible community pharmacy businesses.

To qualify for this scheme, applicants:

  • Must be a business entity contracted by the Department of Health NI to provide pharmaceutical services from a registered pharmacy premises in Northern Ireland (‘a community pharmacy contractor’); with 1 to 49 employees; and which holds personal data.  For those contractors operating more than one pharmacy contract, applications and funding are limited to one contracted pharmacy within the business;

     and

  • Must not have previously participated in the NI/NCSC Funded Cyber Essentials Programme;

     and

  • Must not currently hold Cyber Essentials Plus (CE+) certification, not been awarded CE+ certification since January 2023, and are not currently in the process of applying for CE+ certification.

It is anticipated that up to 20 applicants meeting the criteria will receive around 20 hours hands-on support from an expert cyber advisor at no cost (note that no additional software or hardware that the advisor identifies as required to achieve Cyber Essentials will be provided).

Conclusion

This is a unique opportunity for pharmacy contractors to have their cyber security assessed, and an improvement plan identified by IASME experts.  It has been shown that improvements made under the cyber essentials programme have greatly reduced the incidence of successful cyber-attacks in other sectors.

CPNI is grateful to NICSC for allocating this funding and for the ongoing support in regard to Cyber Essentials from the PSNI Cyber Protect Officer.  Demand is expected to be high – so contractors who are eligible are encouraged to apply early via the following link when the application process goes live.

To discuss any aspect of the programme or application process please contact Prof. Mike Mawhinney on 028 9069 0444.

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

  • Weekly Drug Alerts are available here.
  • Weekly Shortages Information is available here.
  • Serious Shortage Protocols are available here.

Media

Soaring cost of common blood clot medicine is the latest drug that is financially crippling local pharmacies – https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/pharmacy-body-warns-blood-clot-medicine-apixaban-is-latest-drug-to-become-unaffordable-in-ni-and-demands-urgent-funding/a1954243742.html

Cyber Security Support – A Unique Opportunity for Qualifying Contractors

The Northern Ireland Cyber Security Centre (NICSC) is offering up to 20 qualifying community pharmacy contractors in Northern Ireland the opportunity to avail of up to 20 hours free on-site expert advice to help their businesses meet the five technical controls of Cyber Essentials.  Further details and a link to the application form will be provided in a contractor update to be issued on Monday 9 September 2024.

FAO Pharmacies Dispensing Prescriptions From Foyle Hospice in Western Trust Locality

  • A letter has been issued 5th September 2024 by SPPG regarding the implementation of HS21 prescribing by Foyle Hospice employed Specialist Palliative Care Nurse and Medics in the Community.
  • A pathfinder has been established where Specialist Palliative Care Nurse and Medical prescribers employed by Foyle Hospice will issue HS21 prescriptions to patients living in their own homes or within a care home setting, rather than asking a GP to implement their prescribing recommendations.
  • A triplicate prescription will be generated by the prescriber. The top copy will be given to Community Pharmacy, middle to the GP for their records and bottom kept at the hospice for their records. The prescription will be annotated to distinguish between medic and nurse to allow appropriate entry into CD register, and to facilitate any prescription queries with the prescriber.
  • Contractors are asked to read the correspondence and share with all relevant team members.
  • Full details of the letter can be found here.

NICPLD Newsletter

The Autumn edition of the NICPLD Newsletter includes updates on a range of topics including:

  • A series of stakeholder sessions focusing on changes to the Foundation Training Year (FTY) from 2025/26 onwards.  Contractors who wish to take part can email nicpld-fty@qub.ac.uk.
  • Information on the next round of Experiential Learning (EL) placements commencing in October 2024.  Queries can be sent to nicpld-el@qub.ac.uk.
  • Information on the application process for the next intake of Independent Prescribing (IP) training.  Applications are expected to open in December 2024 and NICPLD has confirmed that DPPs will no longer need to have a minimum of 3 years prescribing experience.
  • Information on a series of upcoming Windsor Framework Workshops.
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