Medication Safety Update

The SPS Medicines Advice Team gathers a summary of recent safe medication practice communications, reports and publications and presents this each month at the MSO network webinar.

This resource collates all publications and emerging issues pertinent to medication safety, with the intention of undertaking a ‘do once’ approach in supporting MSOs.  It is not all-encompassing however the content is intended to support MSOs in having assurance that they are aware of the most critical updates.

For MSOs unable to attend the MSO network webinar on the day, or for those individuals with an interest in medication safety who wish to view the content, it is available on the SPS website for registered users.

The role of the Medication Safety Officer

An MSO (or equivalent) may not individually be responsible for undertaking all actions or implementing safety solutions to the risks and issues raised in the update resource, but an MSO is responsible for ensuring that these are communicated and acknowledged by an appropriate individual or committee within the organisation.

Using the information

The MSO may have already acknowledged and acted on the information in the update resource but using this collated summary can act as an assurance check that all critical information has been received and, where appropriate acted upon.  There are a number of strategies to use the update resource slides when deciding what, if any, actions need to be taken based on the update resource content.  The task may fall to an individual such as the MSO (or equivalent) or the Medication Safey Committee (or equivalent) may be preferred to ensure a more holistic review.

Example actions to take

• Check that all critical medication safety alerts and notifications have been acknowledged and, where necessary a named lead has been nominated.
• Review whether the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) changes will affect any local clinical guidelines or practice.  Consider whether any clinical guidelines, written product information guides or PGDs will require updating.
• Review the new or updated risk minimisation materials for potential use. Consider sending the details onto the clinical specialists within the organisation for further review.
• Assess whether any supply issues will impact the organisation.  Where alternative products or clinical switching of products is required consider establishing a lead to manage the issue.
• Review the regulation 28 recommendations and assess whether any recommendations are applicable to the organisation.  Consider further discussion at the organisations Medication Safety Committee.
• Consider cascading any new national guidance, SPS resources or applicable information to colleagues involved in the relevant clinical specialty or practice. The decision on who to send ongoing communications to may be made individually or by the organisational medication safety committee.

Update history