News
Shared decision making: NICE web resources
A new webpage from NICE details the benefits of shared decision making, and links to current support documents to assist with helping patients make decisions about their care, e.g. patient decision aids (PDAs) and brief decision aids.
Patient decision aids available include:
– Atrial fibrillation: medicines to help reduce your risk of a stroke – what are the options?
– Taking a statin to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke
– Type 2 diabetes in adults: controlling your blood glucose by taking a second medicine – what are your options?
Who is eligible for the 2016 to 2017 shingles vaccine?
Public Health England have produced a quick and easy-to-read reference poster guide for patients showing the ages and dates of […]
Updated PGDs: Influenza (seasonal flu) vaccines and Shingles (Herpes Zoster) vaccine
The Patient Group Directions (PGDs) for Influenza (seasonal flu) vaccines and Shingles (Herpes Zoster) vaccine have been updated and are available to download from the PGD page of the NECS Medicines website (in the resources menu).
MHRA Drug Safety Update September 2016
– Levonorgestrel-containing emergency hormonal contraception: advice on interactions with hepatic enzyme inducers and contraceptive efficacy
– Posaconazole (Noxafil): tablets and oral suspension are not directly interchangeable
– Idelalisib (Zydelig▼): updated indications and advice on minimising the risk of infection
– Letters sent to healthcare professionals in August 2016
New sepsis toolkit designed to support GPs with sepsis identification and treatment
The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), in partnership with Health Education England and NHS England, has today launched a new sepsis toolkit to support GPs and healthcare professionals to identify and manage the condition in patients.
NICE Bites – Sepsis
NICE Bites summarises key prescribing points from NICE guidance. Sections covered include: assessment and referral, people most vulnerable to sepsis, face to face assessment, treatment and management, antibiotic treatment, intravenous fluids, information and support, information at discharge, training and education.
UKMi Medicines Q&As
The following Medicines Q&As are produced by UK Medicines Information (UKMi) for NHS healthcare professionals in a response to a demand to make available high quality, evidence-based, and quality controlled answers to common or unusual queries made to Medicines Information services.
– What is the available evidence for the use of statins in patients with renal impairment?
– What factors need to be considered when prescribing for lactose intolerant adults?
– Do NSAIDs increase the risk of severe skin reactions in children with chickenpox?
– What are the risks of using antidepressants together with NOACs and how should these risks be managed?
– Can magnesium sulfate be given subcutaneously?
– What factors need to be considered when dosing patients on renal replacement therapies?
– Can high dose loperamide be used to reduce stoma output?
Please visit the SPS website to see more Q&As https://www.sps.nhs.uk/category/qa/
Repevax and Infanrix-IPV PGDs extended until 31st October 2016
The current Patient Group Direction (PGD) for the pre-school booster (combined diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis and inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine (Repevax and Infanrix IPV vaccines) – NECSAT 2014/014) expires on 31st August 2016. The validity of this PGD has now been extended until 31st October 2016, unless replaced earlier.
Community pharmacy seasonal influenza vaccination
NHS England has published the service specification and accompanying patient group direction (PGD). These are for use by pharmacy contractors who wish to take part in the community pharmacy seasonal influenza vaccination advanced service, which starts on 1 September.