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COVID-19 – Managing the Pandemic in Care Homes
The British Geriatrics Society have published guidance on Managing the COVID-19 pandemic in care homes, with the following key recommendations: Care homes should have in place standard operating procedures for individual residents with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 infection, including appropriate infection control precautions to protect staff and residents. Care home staff should be trained to check the temperature of residents displaying possible signs of COVID-19 infection, using a tympanic thermometer (inserted into the ear). Where possible, care home staff should be trained to measure other vital signs including blood pressure, heart rate, pulse oximetry and respiratory rate. This will enable […]
COVID-19 – FSRH CEU Contraceptive Advice
The Clinical Effectiveness Unit of the Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Health have published clinical advice to support provision of effective contraception during the COVID-19 outbreak. BRIEF SUMMARY EXISTING USERS 1. COC/CHC – remote prescription to cover next 6-12 months without BMI/BP check reasonable – consider further supply without review of history if all relevant history documented & no contraindications at time of last supply. 2. POP – further 12 months supply without review reasonable. Consider local PGD for remote provision by non-prescribing HCPs (nurses/pharmacists). 3. Depot MPA – switch to desogestrel POP recommended – F2F assessment NO required. Caution/exception […]
COVID-19 – DMARD Monitoring Changes
The Combined Heads of Service for Rheumatology for the Northern Region have published a statement on Changes to Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (DMARD) monitoring and prescribing in Rheumatology (24/04/20) – which includes the following advice: Monitoring intervals can be extended in patients with previously stable blood testing at the prescribers’ discretion. It is likely that the vast majority of patients who have DMARDs monitored and prescribed in the community will have stable monitoring blood tests; hence we feel it is appropriate to relax the requirement for DMARD monitoring for 6 months. However, PLEASE NOTE, as prescribers, we need to be more vigilant […]
COVID-19 – eRD Resources from the NHS BSA
The NHS BSA have updated their collection of eRD Resources to help Primary Care Teams to follow national advice to move as many people as possible to electronic Repeat Dispensing as quickly as possible – to help manage demand & workload during the COVID-19 emergency. The NHS BSA have also produced new resources – with a new streamlined service for GP practices to receive NHS Numbers for patients who may be eligible for eRD. The BSA will send GP practices that confirm an active nhs.net email address a password-protected ZIP file – with the NHS Number and name of item […]
Medicines Matters – COVID-19 Special Bulletin 1
Medicine Matters – COVID-19 Special Bulletin 1 The NECS Medicines Optimisation Care Home & Social Care Support Team have produced the first of a series of COVID-19 Special Bulletins to help Care Staff respond and adjust to the challenges and changes arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The first Special Bulletin Includes: Changes to Medicines Packaging – Dealing with a switch from Monitored Dosage Systems (Multi-Compartment Compliance Aids – MDS – aka Dosette boxes) Conserving Essential NHS Medicine Supplies – How social care teams can help Advice on conserving paracetamol
COVID-19 – Guidance for Safe Switching of Warfarin to DOACs
Please see attached Guidance for the safe switching of warfarin to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for patients with non-valvular AF and venous thromboembolism (DVT / PE) during the coronavirus pandemic – endorsed by Royal College of General Practitioners, British Haematology Society, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, UK Clinical Pharmacy Association, Primary Care Pharmacy Association & the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society. The Guidance is accompanied by the following statement from the Atrial Fibrillation Leads for the Academic Health Science Network, Professor Gary Ford (Professor of Stroke Medicine, University of Oxford) & Helen Williams (National Clinical Adviser for AF): We are aware that many […]
Clenil 100 – Available Alternatives
The pharmaceutical company Chiesi have appealed to all Health Care Professionals to help maintain supply by desisting from writing multiple prescriptions for the same products until acute pressures begin to ease. At the same time, the company issued a statement confirming that their operations are NOT affected by containment measures in place in Italy and that production and distribution of their products continues without limitation or restriction. Chiesi have also acknowledged issues with supply of Clenil 100 metered dose inhalers – linked to unprecedented demand. The company anticipates being unable to meet the current increase in demand – and cannot […]
COVID-19 – Smoking Cessation
The Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine COVID-19 Service has published a briefing on Smoking in Acute Respiratory Infections – with detailed analysis covering these important points: Does smoking increase the risk of acute respiratory infections? Verdict Yes If you quit smoking during a respiratory infection is your outcome better? Verdict Yes Will quitting smoking now help reduce risks? Verdict Yes Are there ways to increase the success of smoking cessation attempts in the current circumstances? Verdict Yes The article concludes with the following: …..under the current circumstances it may be sensible to try and reduce to quit over a […]