Newsletters

Please click on a month in the table below for the corresponding newsletter.

Kent & Medway Newsletters

Issues Contents Summary Attachment

Issue 30 - 27 January 2022

  • COVID Vaccine Allergy Pathway Update
  • Dapagliflozin (Forxiga) MHRA Safety Update
  • Updated DOAC Monitoring Recommendations in NVAF
  • Medicines Supply Tool
  • Adrenaline Auto Injectors
  • COPD Rescue Packs
  • Formulary Update: Triple Therapy Inhalers for asthma
  • Kent & Medway Palliative Care Chart
  • Prescqipp Resources
  • Benzodiazepines and Z Drugs Webinar
  • MHRA Alerts (see MHRA Drug Safety update)
Supply Shortage Alert

Issue 31 - 24 February 2022

  • Molnupiravir swallowing difficulties
  • Kent and Medway Position on carbon footprint
  • Medicines Optimisation Scheme Survey
  • Formulary Update
  • Kent and Medway COPD Guidance for primary care
  • Product Recalls for Alimentum® & Elecare®
  • Implementation Guidance for NICE TA 694
  • Mirabegron Prescribing
  • NICE Publication updates attached to the newsletter
Supply Shortage Alert

Issue 32 - 24 March 2022

  • New NHS E System for Recording Patient Safety Events
  • New Guidance - BPSD Primary Care & Care Homes Best Practice
  • NICE Update for Lokelma
  • Dapagliflozin EMIS search to support MHRA alert
  • Reminder- Saxenda
  • Learning from Incidents- Allopurinol / Azathioprine Interaction
  • Inclisiran – Information on funding and supply
  • Edoxaban – New PCN DES IIF Indicators
  • New Adult Autism and ADHD Service
Supply Shortage Alert

Issue 33 - 24 April 2022

  • Potassium Permanganate: Inadvertent Oral Administration
  • South East Lipids Webinar
  • Hepatitis: increase in acute cases of unknown aetiology in children
  • NHS National Summary Guidance for Lipid Management for K&M
  • Prescribers link Code to Practices (Registration and Removal from practices)
  • CPPE e-learning – ‘Controlled Drugs in Chronic Pain’
  • Provision of Lymphodema Garments
  • Solriamfetol in Primary Care
  • Pregabalin (Lyrica): findings of safety study on risks in pregnancy
Supply Shortage Alert

Issue 34 - May 2022 - Part 1
May 2022 - Part 2

Part 1

  • New antimicrobial prescribing guidance
  • Ranitidine – licence suspended
  • COPD training sessions
  • Saxenda® (Liraglutide 6mg/ml Injection) – not for primary care prescribing
  • South East Lipid Management Webinar
  • Polypharmacy: Understanding the data webinar (24 May)
  • Prescribing Midazolam for end of life care
  • Local area updates – east Kent

Part 2

  • Chlordiazepoxide Librium warning
  • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Drug Safety Update, Pregabalin, Denosumab
Supply Shortage Alert

Issue 35 - June 2022 - Part 1
June 2022 - Part 2
June 2022 - Part 3

Part 1

  • Kent and Medway Position Statement and Risk Mitigation Principles for Anticoagulant prescribing
  • FAO GPs and Community Pharmacists: Intelligence Update Report from Sussex Police
  • June Shortage article
  • Sim 4 Mental Health

Part 2

  • The carbon footprint of inhalers
  • Reminder: Deadline for Practices to submit returns for MOS 2021/22
  • We would like to hear from YOU!

Part 3

  • Opportunity to Input into Review of UTI Diagnostic Flowchart
  • Information for all General Practitioner and Independent Prescriber colleagues from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
  • Kent & Medway CCG Medicines Optimisation Team NICE News Bimonthly - June 2022
  • FAO Community Pharmacy and GP Dispensing Practices
  • Kent and Medway Medicines Optimisation Scheme for 2022-2024
 

Issue 36 - July 2022 - Part 1
July 2022 - Part 2

Part 1

  • Medicines Optimisation System Working at its best – NHS Kent and Medway AND Kent Community Health Foundation Trust (KCHFT) Pharmacy Teams shortlisted for HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2022!
  • Good Practice News
  • Shortages Summary July 2022
  • NICE guidance for Acute Otitis Media
  • New NICE guideline: Medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms (useful for the dependence forming medicines project in the MOS!)
  • A reminder for primary care prescribers – Hypomagnesaemia associated with Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)
  • Reminder of Potassium Permanganate CAS Alert[1]Inadvertent Oral Administration of Potassium Permanganate
  • Asthma and Nebulisers
  • Dapagliflozin for treating Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
  • Kent and Medway Managing Deterioration Management tool – RESTORE2
  • Best Practice Guidance for Care Homes

Part 2

  • MHRA Drug Safety Update June 2022
  • Sentinel Plus Project
 
Issue 37 - August 2022
  • Guidance for Multicompartmental Aids MCAs/Dosette Boxes
  • Shortages Summary August 2022
  • National Patient Safety Alert: Mexiletine
  • MHRA Drug Safety Update
  • MHRA Class 4 Medicines Defect Information: Novo Nordisk Limited, NovoRapid® FlexTouch® 100 units/ml, Saxenda® FlexTouch® (liraglutide) 6mg/ml, EL(22)A/33
  • CPD conference on Controlled Drugs: Ensuring the Safer Management
  • Important Product Supply Information: Shortec Oral Solution
  • NICE News Bimonthly - August 2022
  • Cow’s Milk Allergy Feed
  • Tobacco Industry Lobbying
 
Issue 38 - September 2022
  • Clozapine Safety
  • Product Discontinuation: Seroxat (paroxetine hydrochloride) 20mg/10ml oral suspension
  • Product Discontinuation: Insuman Infusat 100units/ml solution for injection 3.15ml cartridges (Sanofi) 5 cartridge
  • Amoxicillin Prescribing and Duration
  • Reminder: Best Practice Guidance for Care Homes
  • Medicines Optimisation MHRA Drug Safety Update – August 2022 (for September 2022 MO Newsletter)
  • Shortages Summary September 2022
  • Medicine Supply Notification – Temazepam 10mg and 20mg tablets – and Local Recommendations
  • MHRA – Class 4 Medicines Defect Information: Rosuvastatin 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg film-coated tablets EL (22)A/35
  • MHRA – Class 4 Medicines Defect Information: Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Atorvastatin 4mg/ml Oral Suspension & Sildenafil 10mg/ml Oral Suspension, EL (22)A/39
  • MHRA – Class 2 Medicines Recall: Dysport 500 Units Powder for Solution for Injection, EL (22)A/36
  • MHRA – Class 2 Medicines Recall: Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK, Sandimmum Oral Soultion, EL (22)A/40
 
Issue 39 - October 2022
  • Guidance on NHS patients who wish to pay for additional private care
  • Colchicine Prescribing
  • Kent and Medway Position Statement and Risk Mitigation Principles for Anticoagulant Prescribing
  • Ardens Long Term Conditions training Webinar
  • Medicines Optimisation MHRA Drug Safety Update – September 2022 (for October 2022 MO Newsletter)
  • Shortages Summary September 2022
  • Medicine Supply Notifications: Nafarelin, Dulaglutide, Semaglutide and Dioralyte
  • NICE News
  • Asthma Inhalers and the Environment Patient Decision Aid (NG80)
  • MHRA Anti-epileptic drugs: Advice on switching between manufacturer’s products.
  • World Anti-Microbial Awareness Week (WAAW)
  • Revised SPC: Forxiga (Dapagliflozin) film coated tablets
  • PrescQipp Award Success
  • CPCS request for Support from practices
  • Pharmacy Technician Day- 18th October 2022
GLP1 Supply Shortage Statement
Issue 40 - November 2022
  • Reminder on the Prescribing of Sodium Valproate safely in Women and Girls
  • Notification of product name change: Carefine Insulin Pen Needles to Greenfine Insulin Pen Needles
  • SPS Medicines Advice Service Information
  • Medicines Optimisation MHRA Drug Safety Update – Oct 2022
  • Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) infographic
  • Product Discontinuation: FreeStyle Libre 1
  • November Shortages
  • Serious Shortage Protocols: Estraderm MX® 50mcg and 75mcg patches
  • Discontinuation of Stemetil 5mg/5ml Syrup
  • MHRA Class 4 Medicines Defect Information: Venlafaxine XL 300 mg prolonged-release tablets
 
Issue 41 - December 2022
  • HSJ Awards Success
  • OTC prescribing
  • COPD inhaler guidance reminder
  • Discontinuation of Stemetil 5mg/5ml Syrup
  • Asthma and nebulisers
  • All Ranitidine products – license suspended
  • Shortages Summary December 2022
  • MHRA Updates
  • NICE News December 2022
Supply Shortage Alert
Issue 42 - January 2023
  • Safety considerations with Metolazone preparations
  • Over the counter medicines resources
  • IT Support Ardens / EMIS
  • MHRA Drug Safety Update
  • Class 4 Medicines Defect Information: Galderma (U.K.) Limited, Epiduo 0.1% / 2.5% gel (45 g)
  • Class 4 Medicines Defect Information: Albireo AB, Bylvay 1200 micrograms Hard Capsules, EL (23)A/01 Class 2 MHRA Recall – Dioctyl 100mg capsules
  • Shortages
  • Medicines Supply Notifications
  • Serious Shortage Protocols
Supply Shortage Alert

Please note that newsletters are archived after 12 months to avoid offering out-of-date information.