NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service

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'.

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'.