NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service

Gary Hodgson, Medicines Advice Pharmacist at SPS presents, a summary of the resources published by SPS between 21st and 27th February.

To easily find a list of newly published pages go to sps.nhs.uk, select ‘search’, click in the search bar, and press enter.

Quick links to highlighted resources:   

Advanced therapy medicinal products
All our resources and guidance to support the use of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) in the healthcare system.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/guidance/advanced-therapy-medicinal-products/

Medication Safety Update
A resource collating the latest medication safety communications and publications to inform, support and inspire medication safety improvements.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/medication-safety-update/

Travel health: resources to support clinical decisions
Suggested resources to help healthcare professionals find information regarding medicines and travel
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/travel-health-resources-to-support-clinical-decisions/

Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences          
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/         

Join our new WhatsApp channel to stay up to date with our latest news and updates    
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBslvuJpe8aH3n7Zu1i    

Podcast description:        
NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service serves healthcare professionals across the NHS who are involved in all aspects of buying, making and using medicines. Our motto is 'do once and share'.

Dav Manku Associate Regional Pharmacy Procurement Specialist at SPS presents, a summary of the resources published by SPS between 14th and 20th February.

To easily find a list of newly published pages go to sps.nhs.uk, select ‘search’, click in the search bar, and press enter.

Quick links to highlighted resources:   

Procurement of medicines and services for NHS secondary care
An overview of procurement arrangements for medicines and pharmaceutical products and services for NHS secondary care providers in England.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/procurement-of-medicines-and-services-for-nhs-secondary-care/

Spironolactone monitoring
Updated monitoring guidance.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/monitorings/spironolactone-monitoring/

Specific Medicine Switches for Solid Dose and Liquid Formulations
Certain medicines require additional monitoring and dose adjustments when switching between solid dose and liquid formulations.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/specific-medicine-switches-for-solid-dose-and-liquid-formulations/

Prescribing Co-codamol and Switching Analgesics for Pain Relief
The supply of co-codamol 30mg/500mg tablets is limited until early June 2026. Actions are being taken nationally and locally to manage the shortage.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/prescribing-co-codamol-and-switching-analgesics-for-pain-relief/

Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences          
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/         

Join our new WhatsApp channel to stay up to date with our latest news and updates    
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBslvuJpe8aH3n7Zu1i    

Podcast description:        
NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service serves healthcare professionals across the NHS who are involved in all aspects of buying, making and using medicines. Our motto is 'do once and share'.

Penny Daynes, Associate Regional Pharmacy Procurement Specialist at SPS presents, a summary of the resources published by SPS between 7th and 13th February.
To easily find a list of newly published pages go to sps.nhs.uk, select ‘search’, click in the search bar, and press enter

Quick links to highlighted resources:     

Assessing risks when reconstituting injectable medicines 
Assess risks of error and contamination when choosing the appropriate location for aseptic manipulation of injectable medicines.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/assessing-risks-when-reconstituting-injectable-medicines/

Using chloramphenicol during breastfeeding
Topical chloramphenicol can be used with caution and monitoring. Systemic chloramphenicol is not recommended. Advice applies to full term and healthy infants.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/using-chloramphenicol-during-breastfeeding/

Administering medicines through an enteral feeding tube
Learn about how to give medicine through an enteral feeding tube, including water type, syringe size, and key steps for administration.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/administering-a-medicine-through-an-enteral-feeding-tube/

Managing the risks of using effervescent tablets in children 
Careful use of effervescent or soluble tablets to deliver part tablet doses for children and neonates can minimise risks of toxicity or suboptimal therapy.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/managing-the-risks-of-using-effervescent-tablets-in-children/

Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences          
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/         

Join our new WhatsApp channel to stay up to date with our latest news and updates    
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBslvuJpe8aH3n7Zu1i    

 Podcast description:        
NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service serves healthcare professionals across the NHS who are involved in all aspects of buying, making and using medicines. Our motto is 'do once and share'.

Emma Kirk and Anna Bischler talk about what you can expect from attending the upcoming webinar ‘Embedding medication safety in the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF)’. The webinar will be held on Wednesday 25 March from 12.30-2pm.

Emma Kirk, Medication Safety Officer Network Lead, NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service
Anna Bischler, Associate Director – Medication Safety, NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service

Register for the webinar here: https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/effectively-embedding-medication-safety-into-psirf/

See Mun Wong, Digital and Quality Improvement Specialist at SPS presents, a summary of the resources published by SPS between 31st January and 6th February.  

To easily find a list of newly published pages go to sps.nhs.uk, select ‘search’, click in the search bar, and press enter

Quick links to highlighted resources:  

SMRs in problematic polypharmacy
Recordings of case-based discussions about structured medication reviews (SMRs) in problematic polypharmacy, each focussing on a different condition. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/smrs-in-problematic-polypharmacy-case-based-discussions/

Polypharmacy explainer videos
These animated videos explain the 7 steps of structured medication review, using a person-centred approach to managing polypharmacy
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/polypharmacy-and-structured-medication-review-explainer-videos/

Using antihistamines during breastfeeding
Cetirizine and loratadine are preferred antihistamines when breastfeeding full-term, healthy infants. Chlorphenamine is the preferred sedating antihistamine.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/using-antihistamines-during-breastfeeding/

Aflibercept biosimilar update
Aflibercept 2mg biosimilars for use in ophthalmology are available for NHS use. We offer general information and implementation advice.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/preparing-to-use-aflibercept-2mg-biosimilar/

New Medicines News
New Medicines News is produced by the SPS Horizon Scanning Service. It highlights recent new product launches and significant medicines regulatory changes.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/new-medicines-news/

Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences         
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/        

Join our new WhatsApp channel to stay up to date with our latest news and updates   
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBslvuJpe8aH3n7Zu1i   

Podcast description:       
NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service serves healthcare professionals across the NHS who are involved in all aspects of buying, making and using medicines. Our motto is 'do once and share'.