Clinical Information

Clinical Information and Prescribing Guidelines

Useful Free Resources, Websites and Apps

Clinical Information

Specialist Pharmacy Services (SPS):

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/medicines/

Information on drug shortages and alternatives, medicine compliance aids stability, refrigerated storage etc. Search by the drug name.

Need to register to be able to view all the content on the site.

Prescqipp:

https://www.prescqipp.info/

Resources, clinical webinars etc…

PCPA:

https://www.pcpa.org.uk/covid.html

Covid-19 Hub and telegram group free to all pharmacy professionals in all sectors.     

Local Prescribing Guidelines

Click the links below to view the prescribing guidelines for the required area:

HAPC Newsletter Oct-Dec 2022

Humber Area Prescribing Committee (Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire):

For further information about HAPC documents go to: https://www.northernlincolnshireapc.nhs.uk/apc-documents/

For the Humber Joint Formulary go to:

Humber APC Formulary (apcnlgformulary.nhs.uk)

York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:

http://www.yorkandscarboroughformulary.nhs.uk/

Hull University Teaching Hospital (HUTH) Interface Portal:

This interface portal is for specific patient related or discharge queries by healthcare professionals.

On the NHS mail platform so can share patient details if from another NHS net account.

hyp-tr.huthinterfaceportal@nhs.net

Drug shortages, Out of Stocks and Alternatives

Department of Health & Social Care Supplies Issues Update (available on SPS):

These updates also contain links to CAS alerts and guidance on alternatives for unavailable drugs.

Example for August 2020

To access the most recent Supply Issues Update:-

• Access SPS website

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/medicines/

• Important to log in first, then search ‘DHSC Monthly Shortages Update ’
• Scroll down page to ‘Medicine supply & shortages updates from Department of Health and Social Care’
• Scroll down to Link to ‘Supply Issues Update’

MIMs drug shortages tracker:

Also has information on discontinued stock.

https://www.mims.co.uk/drug-shortages-live-tracker/article/1581516

Currently unlimited access until 1^st September due to Covid-19 for all Healthcare professionals (need to register)

Sign up for MHRA alerts:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agency/email-signup

PSNC Medicine Shortages:

https://psnc.org.uk/dispensing-supply/supply-chain/medicine-shortages/#:~:text=Shortages%20of%20medicines%20are%20becoming,potential%20impact%20on%20their%20patients.

NHSE Guide to Managing Medicine Supply and Shortages:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/a-guide-to-managing-medicines-supply-and-shortages-2.pdf

RPS (Available to Members only):

https://www.rpharms.com/resources/pharmacy-guides/medicine-shortages-in-community-pharmacy

Useful Apps

BNF

RightBreathe (inhaler information and training on devices)

For more see CPPE Apps for pharmacy guide

https://www.cppe.ac.uk/programmes/l/apps-g-04

Drug Monitoring Tool:

The Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) have recently released an excellent drug monitoring tool to assist pharmacists in accessing live information regarding medication monitoring requirements at ‘start up, immediately after starting therapy or changing dose, and during long term ongoing treatment’.

Clicking on each drug individually within the tool will provide you with a host of specific information which may be useful to pharmacists, particularly when providing NMS consultations and general medication advice to patients re: starting meds, risk factors, monitoring after initially starting drug or changing dose, and long term ongoing monitoring throughout treatment.

Please see link below:

Drug Monitoring – SPS – Specialist Pharmacy Service – The first stop for professional medicines advice