NHS SPS - Specialist Pharmacy Service – The first stop for professional medicines advice

Recommended across the site

Benztropine injection for acute dystonic reactions

SPS has developed this resource to support healthcare professionals in managing the discontinuation of procyclidine injection.

Switching doxazosin XL tablets to doxazosin standard tablets

Doxazosin XL tablets should not routinely be prescribed. Guidance is provided on switching doxazosin XL tablets to standard release tablets.

Embedding the safer use of insulin

Implementation of national safety standards, alerts and guidance can help reduce preventable harm from insulin use.

Aseptic services

All our resources for pharmacy aseptic services.

Biosimilars

Regularly updated material to support the introduction of aflibercept, golimumab, ranibizumab, ustekinumab and other biosimilars of interest.

Patient Group Directions and legal mechanisms

All our resources on Patient Group Directions (PGDs) and other legal mechanisms for the supply or administration of medicines.

Annual medicines planning

Our annual Prescribing Outlook outputs support planning, implementation and budget planning for medicines every year.

Procurement

All our resources for NHS secondary care pharmacy procurement services

Events

Governance of aseptic preparation services and themes from audit

An SPS Quality Assurance (QA) bite size learning event on the importance of governance in pharmacy aseptic services.

SMRs in problematic polypharmacy: anticholinergic burden focus

Expert pharmacists will use a case study to illustrate a patient-centred approach to SMRs for patients on medicines with anticholinergic properties.

Health and Justice medicines optimisation 2026 update

Sharing the latest developments in Health and Justice medicines optimisation and pharmacy services.

Procurement regulations and what they mean for medicines

Explore how procurement regulations affect the way medicines are procured for Trusts

Biosimilar and key generic medicines – June 2026 update

An update about biosimilar and key generic medicines to support system planning and mobilisation

Complementary products: helping you respond with confidence

Exploring challenges in answering questions involving complementary products and supporting confident, informed clinical decision making.

Stability challenges in aseptic services

An SPS Quality Assurance (QA) bite size learning event on evaluating chemical and physical stability of medicines prepared in pharmacy aseptic services.

Next events

Our forthcoming conferences and webinars covering a range of Medicines Optimisation issues with SPS and other great speakers and presenters.

Primary care

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

Ask for help

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.

Swallowing difficulties

All our advice on using medicines safely and effectively in patients with swallowing difficulties.

Safety in breastfeeding

All our training and guidance to help decision making about the use of medicines in breastfeeding.

Safety in pregnancy

All our training and guidance to help decision making about the use of medicines in pregnancy.

Training and Development, Primary Care

Renal and urologic disorders

Complementary medicines

Reproductive health

Palliative and End of Life Care

Paediatrics

Poisoning

Tools

Medicines Supply Tool

Latest information on supply issues, actions to take, alternatives to use, and expected resolution dates. Content provided by DHSC and MVA team, NHS England.

Medicines Monitoring

Summarised recommendations and guidance for medicines requiring monitoring to save you time when you're making monitoring decisions with patients

Medicines in Compliance Aids Stability Tool

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.

Refrigerated medicines stability tool

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.

Stability Information for Aseptic Services

Information on drug stability to help users make an informed decision on the shelf life for products prepared within aseptic facilities.

Key Molecule Expenditure

View how your organisation is performing for a number of key molecules and compare your performance with others.