Northumberland

Prevention of Future Death Notice – the EPS system does not highlight urgent prescriptions to pharmacies

  “The EPS system does NOT allow urgent prescriptions to be highlighted to the receiving pharmacy when sent from a […]

Electronic repeat dispensing toolkit

Electronic repeat dispensing (eRD) is an integral part of EPS, which offers many extra benefits over paper repeat dispensing and repeat prescribing.

NHS Digital have recently published an Electronic Repeat Dispensing Toolkit, available at which contains useful tools. You can also sign up for some eRD webinars to find out more. The toolkit includes an e-learning package, developed by NECS in conjunction with NHS Digital which can also be accessed through the NECS Medicines website.

Antipsychotic prescribing CQUIN

Update on local CQUIN: Initiating antipsychotic treatment and associated monitoring

Out of Stock List December 2015

The following items are currently unavailable, hard to obtain or going short in the market. It is not an exhaustive […]

Clozapine – constipation as an under-recognised life-threatening effect of clozapine

Constipation is an under-recognised life-threatening adverse effect of clozapine.
Clozapine has been associated with varying degrees of impairment of intestinal peristalsis, ranging from constipation to intestinal obstruction, faecal impaction and paralytic ileus. On rare occasions theses cases have been fatal.

Name change of Camcolit 250mg tablets

The proprietary (brand) name of “Camcolit 250mg tablets” has changed to “Lithium Carbonate Essential Pharma 250 mg film-coated tablets”, effective from 1st October 2015.

Controlled Drugs: Learning from Incidents October 2015

NECS supports the NHS England Area Team Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer in ensuring the safe management and use of controlled drugs within the North East & Cumbria region. Based on the commonly reported incidents and the lessons learned, we aim to share good practice across the region.

North of Tyne APC Update October 2015

Recent decisions – Latest Decisions | North Of Tyne Area Prescribing Committee Methenamine hippurate has been requested as a second […]

Mirabegron: risk of severe hypertension and associated cerebrovascular and cardiac events

Mirabegron is now contraindicated in patients with severe uncontrolled hypertension; advice about regular monitoring is being introduced because of cases of severe hypertension.