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RightBreathe website
The RightBreathe website and app has been developed by Lambeth GP, Dr Azhar Saleem, in conjunction with (amongst others) UK Medicines Information. Both the website and app have now been launched, and with details on every licensed inhaler in the UK for asthma and COPD, including links to videos and prescribing information, they provide a free-to-use, comprehensive, ‘one-stop’ resource to help patients and healthcare professionals better understand inhalers. www.rightbreathe.com The iOS app is here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rightbreathe/id1171045042?mt=8 And the same app (but for Android) here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rightbreathe&hl=en
NICE Bites – Cerebral palsy in under 25’s
NICE Bites – Cerebral palsy in under 25’s NICE Bites No 97 May 2017 includes one topic: Cerebral palsy in under 25’s. It includes the following sections: Assessment and management, multidisciplinary care, managing co-morbidities, epilepsy, low bone mineral density, nutritional status, vomiting regurgitation and reflux, saliva control, pain discomfort and distress,sleep disturbances, constipation, mental health,behavioural difficulties, information and support.
Cold Chain Guidance 2017
The cold chain guidance for immunisation providers commissioned by NHS England Cumbria and North East Region has been reviewed and updated. The guidance first issued in 2015 now includes more advice relating to temperature monitoring, especially the use of data loggers. It also contains a key points section at the beginning which can be used as an aid memoire. However, please ensure that all staff responsible for cold chain maintenance are familiar with the whole document.
Medicine Matters Spring 2017: Medicines information for care staff in a social setting
The Spring 2017 newsletter covers homely remedies, use of insulin safety needles, and lessons learnt: warfarin.
MHRA Drug Safety Update May 2017
MHRA Drug Safety Update May 2017 A new Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Drug Safety Update (vol 10, issue 10, May 2017) has been published and includes articles on: Finasteride: rare reports of depression and suicidal thoughts; New e-learning modules on reporting suspected adverse drug reactions; and Letters sent to healthcare professionals in April 2017, including reminder of retigabine (Trobalt) withdrawal.
NICE Bites – Managing medicines for adults receiving social care in the community
NICE Bites – Managing medicines for adults receiving social care in the community NICE Bites April 2017; No 96 includes one topic; Managing medicines for adults receiving social care in the community. Sections covered include; Commissioners and providers, assessment, provider’s care plan, sharing information, communicating medication changes, joint working between health and social care, supporting people to take their medicines, record keeping, giving medicines, covert administration, ordering, transporting and disposing of medicines, monitoring and review and managing concerns about medicines.
NICE issues updated clinical guideline for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (NG28)
The updated guideline now includes text on sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors in the section on initial drug treatment. Additionally, new information on SGLT-2 inhibitors was added to the box on action to take if metformin is contraindicated or not tolerated.
NICE Bites – Spondyloarthritis
NICE Bites – Spondyloarthritis NICE Bites March 2017; No 95 includes one topic, Spondyloarthritis in over 16’s: diagnosis and management. Sections covered include; recognition and diagnosis, referral criteria, treatment and management, axial spondyloarthritis – non-pharmacological treatment, pharmacological treatment (NSAIDs, TNF-alpha inhibitors, secukinumab), peripheral spondyloarthritis – pharmacological treatment (DMARDs, NSAIDs, apremilast, TNF-alpha inhibitors, ustekinumab), reactive arthritis, managing flares, managing long-term complications, referral for surgey, and coordinating care.