NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service

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

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:   

Parkinson’s disease medicines in swallowing difficulties
Information on administration of Parkinson’s disease medicines, including crushing tablets, to reduce the risk of missed doses in swallowing difficulties.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/parkinsons-disease-medicines-in-swallowing-difficulties/

Amendments to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012
Sodium content in medicines can be a concern, especially for those on salt-restricted diets. Awareness is important for safe prescribing and patient management
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/assessing-the-clinical-impact-of-sodium-content-in-medicines/

Supporting lithium safety across the system
Healthcare professionals (HCP) in all settings who interact with patients prescribed lithium should be aware of safety considerations related to its use.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/supporting-lithium-safety-across-the-system/

Choosing an antidepressant for people with epilepsy
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the preferred antidepressant in people with epilepsy. We give considerations when selecting antidepressants.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/using-antidepressants-for-treating-depression-in-people-with-epilepsy/

Contact details
Get in touch with one of our teams to ask a question or raise an issue. Different teams can help you with different topics.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/about-sps/get-in-touch/

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'.

Gary Hodgson, Medicines Advice Pharmacist at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 14th and 20th March.

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:   

Managing controlled drugs for dental teams
This series of articles covers prescribing, governance, storage and record keeping, stock management and disposal of controlled drugs for dental teams.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/managing-controlled-drugs-for-dental-teams/

Assessing the clinical impact of sodium content in medicines
Sodium content in medicines can be a concern, especially for those on salt-restricted diets. Awareness is important for safe prescribing and patient management
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/assessing-the-clinical-impact-of-sodium-content-in-medicines/

Contact details
Get in touch with one of our teams to ask a question or raise an issue. Different teams can help you with different topics.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/about-sps/get-in-touch/

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 March.

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:   

Phenytoin monitoring
Updated monitoring guidance
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/monitorings/phenytoin-monitoring/

Palliative care: useful resources to support clinical decisions
Suggested resources to help healthcare professionals find information on medicines in palliative care
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/palliative-care-useful-resources-to-support-clinical-decisions/

SMRs in problematic polypharmacy: case based discussions – CVD focus
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/

National PGD, protocol and written instruction templates
National templates are developed with experts for clinical specialties. They reduce duplication and variation, and improve consistency of care.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/guidance/patient-group-directions-and-legal-mechanisms/national-pgd-protocol-and-written-instructions-templates/

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'.

Hannah Miller, Deputy Quality Assurance Pharmacist at SPS presents, a summary of the resources published by SPS between 28th February and 6th March.

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:   
Landing page for our procurement
All our resources for NHS secondary care pharmacy procurement services https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/guidance/procurement/

Introduction of tocilizumab biosimilars
Two tocilizumab biosimilars are now available. We offer general information and implementation advice.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/preparing-to-use-tocilizumab-biosimilar/

Pharmacogenomics
Suggested resources to help healthcare professionals find information to answer questions about pharmacogenomics.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/pharmacogenomics-resources-to-support-answering-questions/

Common opioids while breastfeeding
Tramadol or dihydrocodeine can be used short term while breastfeeding. Codeine should not be used. Advice applies to full term, healthy infants.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/using-codeine-dihydrocodeine-or-tramadol-during-breastfeeding/

Using solid dosage form antibiotics in children
Information for off-label crushing, dispersing or opening solid oral antibiotics in children when licensed suspension formulations aren’t available.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/using-solid-oral-dosage-form-antibiotics-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'.

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'.