News
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.
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.
Oral bisphosphonates: reminder of precautions to take
All bisphosphonates are associated with a risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). Therefore before prescribing oral bisphosphonates, we remind you to tell patients to maintain good oral hygiene, attend routine dental check-ups and immediately report any oral symptoms such as dental mobility, pain, or swelling to a doctor and dentist.
Paracetamol administration with Meningococcal B (Men B) vaccine
On September 1st the new national Meningococcal B (Men B) immunisation programme for infants began. As administration of Men B vaccine when given with other routine primary vaccines often produces a fever, Public Health England recommend that infants are given a 60mg prophylactic dose of paracetamol at the time or soon after vaccination plus two further doses at intervals of 4-6 hours. The advice from PHE is clear that parents / carers are responsible for obtaining and administering the paracetamol and it should not be prescribed.
Biosimilars – NICE resource to support the implementation of biosimilar versions of infliximab
NICE has published a new adoption resource to support the introduction of biosimilar versions of infliximab: Inflectra and Remsima. This resource has been developed for both clinicians and non-clinical staff to help manage the introduction of these biosimilar medicines into care pathways safely and effectively.
Misuse of hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan)
NHS England and Public Health England have issued a letter in order to raise awareness of the misuse of hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan) which has been reported from HM prisons. Prescribers need to consider the appropriateness of new requests for hyoscine, particularly from patients recently discharged from prison.
Bulletin – Controlled Drugs: Learning from Incidents
Controlled Drugs: Learning from Incidents July 2015 NECS supports the NHS England Area Team Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer in ensuring […]
PrescQIPP
NECS Medicines Optimisation has successfully secured funding for a subscription to the PresQIPP programme for 2015/16. PresQIPP is an NHS programme that supports quality, optimised prescribing for patients, producing evidence-based resources and tools for primary care commissioners and a platform to share innovation across the NHS.
Minor ailment services Facebook storm
Pharmacy minor ailment services have hit the national and regional media headlines courtesy of a post on Facebook claiming that parents can get free Calpol via their local scheme. The RPS and BBC Health Online have published some information to correct the misinformation circulating.