Penny Daynes, Associate Regional Pharmacy Procurement specialist at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 27th September and 3rd October.
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:
Vancomycin: informing intrathecal risk assessment
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/vancomycin-informing-intrathecal-risk-assessment/
Vancomycin products vary in their licensed status and other characteristics which affects their suitability for intrathecal administration
Colistimethate sodium: informing intrathecal risk assessment
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/colistimethate-sodium-informing-intrathecal-risk-assessment/
Colistimethate products vary in their licensed status and other characteristics which affects their suitability for intrathecal administration
Our Medication Safety Update
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/medication-safety-update/
A resource collating the latest medication safety communications and publications to inform, support and inspire medication safety improvements.
Considerations for developing national PGD and protocol templates
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/considerations-for-developing-national-pgd-templates/
Decisions to develop PGD templates under the national Medicines Governance Do Once Programme depend on a variety of factors and advice on exclusions is given.
2 new PGDs have been published for trimethoprim and nitrofurantoin for UTIS
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trimethoprim-PGD-template-UTI-V2.0.docx#:~:text=UTIs
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Nitrofurantoin-PGD-template-UTI-V2.0.docx#:~:text=UTIs
Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/
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'.
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4:20
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4:20
Primary care discussions: biosimilar insulin
About the event
An ‘on the couch’ discussion on the practical implementation of biosimilar insulin in primary care, focusing on hints and tips to consider should your system be considering this, and debunking some of the myths around biosimilar insulin.
This was the rescheduled event from June ’25.
Why it’s important
Biosimilar insulin use is increasing across the primary care landscape. This webinar hopes to instil confidence in those who are considering a move to biosimilar insulin and share practical considerations you may wish to think about as a system embarking on this journey.
What was covered
Speakers discussed and shared different approaches to implementing biosimilar insulin across their localities. Discussions spanned general practice, community pharmacy, and secondary care, critical when planning and implementing the transition to biosimilar insulin.
Speakers
A range of speakers from SPS and other organisations will run this event.
Non-SPS speakers
Carolyn Barton
Head of Medicines Management (Knowsley Place); NHS Cheshire and Merseyside
Chris Haigh
Deputy Chief Pharmacist; NHS Cheshire and Merseyside
Jole Hannan
Head of Medicines Management (Wirral Place); NHS Cheshire and Merseyside
Georgia Lane
Senior Clinical Pharmacist (Knowsley Place); NHS Cheshire and Merseyside
SPS speakers
Rakhi Aggarwal
Primary Care Lead, NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service
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50:30
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50:30
30 September: Biosimilars, rarely used medicines, & upcoming events
Nicola Wake, Associate Director, Medicines Use and Safety at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 20th and 26th September.
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:
The licence and supporting evidence for aflibercept biosimilars – log in required
Aflibercept 2mg biosimilars Afqlir, Eydenzelt, Yesafili and Vgenfli are expected in December 2025 for NHS use. Learn about supporting evidence and differences.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/the-licence-and-supporting-evidence-for-aflibercept-biosimilars/
Preparing to use aflibercept 2mg biosimilar
Aflibercept 2mg biosimilars for use in ophthalmology are expected in December 2025 for NHS use. We offer general information and implementation advice.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/preparing-to-use-aflibercept-2mg-biosimilar/
Rarely used medicines – how to view them on RxInfo
A guide to support on-call staff in locating supplies of rarely used medicines out of hours.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/rarely-used-medicines-how-to-view-them-on-rxinfo/
Medicines Monitoring Tool
Updated entry for acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/tools/drug-monitoring/
Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/
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 13th and 19th September.
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:
How enteral feeds affect medicines
Overview of enteral feeding tubes, medicine selection, feed interactions, administration techniques, and managing tube blockages.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/how-enteral-feeding-tubes-affect-medicines/
Preparing to use omalizumab biosimilar
Omalizumab biosimilars are expected soon. We offer general information and implementation advice.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/preparing-to-use-omalizumab-biosimilar/
New product evaluations – log in required
A list of new product evaluations that are freely available to NHS staff.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/new-product-evaluations/
SPS Vacancies:
Senior Specialist Pharmacist Medicines Advice & Medicines Use and Safety (closing date 24 September)
https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9287-25-1466?keyword=pharmacist&location=Liverpool&distance=5&language=en&page=2
Senior Specialist Pharmacist, Medicines Use and Safety (closing date 24 September)
https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9287-25-1470
Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/
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'.
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5:19
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5:19
16 September: time critical use of rasburicase, biosimilars, & upcoming events
John Oliver, a quality assurance specialist at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 6th and 12th September.
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:
Ensuring time critical use of rasburicase
Timely use of rasburicase for treatment of tumour lysis syndrome is essential. Mitigation strategies can minimise harm associated with delayed therapy.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/ensuring-time-critical-use-of-rasburicase/
Preparing to use denosumab 60mg biosimilar
Biosimilars of denosumab 60mg (Prolia) are expected soon. We offer general information and implementation advice.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/preparing-to-use-denosumab-60mg-biosimilar-for-osteoporosis/
Understanding biosimilar and generic market entry – explainer video
New medicines have several protections against competition. Other factors influence availability of biosimilars or generics after loss of exclusivity.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/understanding-biosimilar-and-generic-market-entry/
SPS Vacancies:
Senior Specialist Pharmacist Medicines Advice & Medicines Use and Safety (closing date 24 September)
https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9287-25-1466?keyword=pharmacist&location=Liverpool&distance=5&language=en&page=2
Senior Specialist Pharmacist, Medicines Use and Safety (closing date 24 September)
https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9287-25-1470
Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/
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'.
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'.
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