Newsletters

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

Kent & Medway Newsletters

Issues Contents Summary Attachment

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
Issue 43 - February 2023
  • Best Practice Guidance for Care homes
  • Ozempic prescribing
  • Urgent Field Safety Notice: FreeStyle LibreLink App for Android and FreeStyle Libre 3 App for Android (all versions)
  • Celebrating Advanced Practice Conference 17th March 2023
  • Shortages
  • Medicines Supply Notification: Senokot® syrup and Senokot® 12 Years Plus syrup (both containing 7.5mg/5ml sennosides)
  • NICE news February 2023
 
Issue 44 - March 2023
  • Launch of the Kent and Medway ICB Medicines Optimisation Webpage
  • Dexcom ONE transmitters on EMIS formulary
  • Group A Strep (GAS) guidance update and impact on MOS sore throat audit.
  • Inhaler Spacer Device Prescribing
  • Salbutamol Prescribing
  • MDI to DPI Switch
  • MHRA Metolazone Drug Safety Update
  • Clinical Fellow Scheme Application Information
  • NICE CG181 Update
  • KMPT Video Guides for Patients on Medicines Information
  • Medicines Optimisation MHRA Drug Safety Update – Jan and Feb 2023
  • MHRA Class 4 Defect Information- Venlafaxine 150mg,225mg and 300mg
  • Shortages Summary March 2023
Supply Shortage Alert
Issue 45 - April 2023
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Prepayment Certificate (PPC)
  • Chronic Pain Resources
  • Non-Medical Prescribing and Controlled Drugs
  • Reminder on Oral Hygiene Prescribing
  • Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey
  • Genomics Webinar: Aminoglycosides Pharmacogenetic Testing
  • West Kent PCN Pharmacy Support Network Learning Session
  • Medicines Optimisation MHRA Drug Safety Update – March 2023
  • NICE News April 2023
  • Shortages Summary April 2023
  • MHRA - Class 4 Medicines Defect Information: Sandoz Limited, Co-amoxiclav 125/31.25mg/5ml, 250/62.5mg/5ml powder for oral suspension, EL (23)A/14
Supply Shortage Alert

Please note that newsletters are archived after 12 months to avoid offering out-of-date information.