Recommended across the site

One licensed tocilizumab biosimilar is available: Tyenne. Learn about the licensed indications, supporting evidence and key differences.
Introducing biosimilar tocilizumab needs planning. Work with the multidisciplinary team to ensure familiarity with the area and develop an implementation plan.
Governance should consider processes for approval, procurement and supply, prescribing and administration, monitoring, and pharmacovigilance.
Timely use of rasburicase for treatment of Tumour Lysis Syndrome is essential. Mitigation strategies can minimise harm associated with delayed therapy.
Various legal mechanisms can be used to supply and/or administer medicines within OHS. We explain some practical applications within this series.
A co-ordinated approach to preventing microbial contamination ensures that aseptically prepared medicines are safe for patients.
Performing a Process Risk Assessment (PRA) to inform contamination control strategy for manufacturing processes within NHS units.
Two licensed eculizumab biosimilars are available: Bekemv and Epysqli. Learn about the licensed indications, supporting evidence and key differences.
Introducing biosimilar eculizumab needs planning. Work with the multidisciplinary team to ensure familiarity with the area and develop an implementation plan.
Governance should consider processes for approval, procurement and supply, prescribing and administration, monitoring, and pharmacovigilance.
Antacids, alginates, H2-receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors can be used during breastfeeding. Recommendations are for full term and healthy infants.
Hyoscine butylbromide, propantheline or peppermint oil are preferred choices during breastfeeding. Recommendations apply to full term and healthy infants.
Zopiclone and zolpidem are preferred for the short-term management of insomnia during breastfeeding. Recommendations apply to full term and healthy infants.
Rectal and anal topical preparations for haemorrhoids and anal fissures are compatible with breastfeeding. Recommendations apply to full term, healthy infants.

Recommended in PGDs

Delegation of any PGD function is not permitted. However there are specific tasks that individuals other than the professional working under a PGD can fulfil.
Understand what a Patient Group Direction (PGD) is and how it is used in clinical practice.
Understanding when PGDs are a suitable mechanism for the supply and/or administration of medicines ensures an appropriate legal framework for service provision.
Understanding when PGDs are an unsuitable mechanism for the supply and/or administration of medicines ensures an alternative legal framework is applied.
Understanding where PGDs can and cannot be used for the supply and/or administration of P and GSL medicines helps ensure correct legal mechanisms in practice.
National PGD templates are developed with experts for clinical specialties. They reduce duplication and variation, and improve consistency of care.

Events

Our forthcoming conferences and webinars covering a range of Medicines Optimisation issues with SPS and other great speakers and presenters.
Search our library of past events for recordings, presentations, and interviews with speakers, all to inform your practice.

Primary care

Our primary care resources and tools are for all those working in the area, including GPs, practice pharmacists and community pharmacy teams.

If you're a healthcare professional who needs further advice, get in touch with us. You can contact us through our single email or telephone number below. Please don't share patient identifiable data with us by email.
All our advice on using medicines safely and effectively in patients with swallowing difficulties
All our training and guidance to help decision making about the use of medicines in breastfeeding
All our training and guidance to help decision making about the use of medicines in pregnancy
All vaccinations, including live vaccines, can be given during breastfeeding. The only exception is yellow fever vaccine which is not recommended.
Continue breastfeeding during COVID-19 infection, even if dexamethasone, Paxlovid, sotrovimab or tocilzumab are required. COVID-19 vaccines can also be given.
An overview of the Comirnaty 3 (THREE) (XBB.1.5) concentrate vaccine and signposts to other useful resources.
An example SOP for preparing Comirnaty 3 (THREE) (XBB.1.5) concentrate vaccine.
An overview of the Spikevax (XBB.1.5) vaccine and signposts to other useful resources.
An example SOP for preparing Spikevax (XBB.1.5) vaccine.
An example SOP for preparing Comirnaty 10 (XBB.1.5) ready to use vaccine.
An overview of the Comirnaty 10 (XBB.1.5) ready to use vaccine and signposts to other useful resources.
Continue breastfeeding during COVID-19 infection, even if dexamethasone, Paxlovid, sotrovimab or tocilzumab are required. COVID-19 vaccines can also be given.
Support for prescribing decisions in people on interacting medicines, those with swallowing difficulties, renal impairment, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Differing models exist for the supply and administration of COVID-19 treatments. We guide through the risks and mitigations associated with each.
Deployment should address a range of factors and be implemented through different mechanisms. Collecting data and learning will support continued safe use.
An outline process and supporting materials to help Trusts deploy sotrovimab
A careful risk assessment should be done on the benefits of this off-label use to the mother, and the risks it poses to the fetus or neonate.
Guidance for Chief Pharmacists and supporting documents to achieve Institutional Readiness and deployment of COVID-19 Treatments
Medication Safety Across the System (MSATS) provides resources and networking to inspire and equip individuals in promoting the safe use of medicines.
Practical guidance on effective collaboration opportunities to promote medication safety improvements
Effective communication allows for timely responses to new and emerging medication risks and the sharing of potential safety solutions.
Healthcare professionals responsible for medication safety in their organisation must deliver an appropriate response to safety alerts
High quality reporting and management of incidents and harms ensures opportunities for learning and improving medication safety
Practical guidance to ensure opportunities to learn from local intelligence, including patient harm are translated into shared local and national learning
Healthcare professionals delivering the medication safety agenda in their organisation require an understanding of national policy, frameworks and legislation
Effective use provides assurance that an organisation is aware of the most critical medication safety related information, and acts on this to improve safety
Increased medication incident reporting provides greater opportunities for learning and improving medication safety
Practical guidance to support those undertaking medication incident investigations

Planning

Our annual Prescribing Outlook outputs support planning, implementation and budget planning for medicines every year.
Regularly updated material to support the introduction of adalimumab, eculizumab, natalizumab, ranibizumab and tocilizumab biosimilars.

Tools

Summarised recommendations and guidance for medicines requiring monitoring to save you time when you're making monitoring decisions with patients
Latest information on supply issues, actions to take, alternatives to use, and expected resolution dates. Content provided by DHSC and CMU.
Information on stability for tablets and capsules to help create MCAs for patients. Find entries and then build and print lists specific to your MCA.
Advice on whether refrigerated medicines can or can’t be used after exposure to out-of-range temperatures. Find entries and build and print lists.