Resources

Pregabalin guidance

Pregabalin is predominantly used in the treatment of epilepsy and for anxiety disorders. It can be misused either through overuse of the prescribed amount, or through recreational use. In the last few years, there has been a marked increase in the number of people being prescribed Pregabalin and sadly the number of deaths caused by … Continue reading Pregabalin guidance

Safer modification of food and drink

In June 2018, NHS improvement, the British Dietetic Association and the Royal College of Speech and Language therapists issued a Patient Safety Alert regarding the use of food thickening (or texture modifying) products for people with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia). There have been a number of incidents reported to the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) … Continue reading Safer modification of food and drink

Valproate safety

Valproate medicines are used in the treatment of epilepsy, bipolar disorder and occasionally to prevent migraine headaches. If taken during pregnancy, there is a significant risk that babies may be born with birth defects. Women and girls using valproate medicines must now be protected by a Pregnancy Prevention Programme, which brings valproate in line with other … Continue reading Valproate safety

Williams Review

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced on 6 February 2018 that he was asking Professor Sir Norman Williams to conduct a rapid policy review into the issues pertaining to gross negligence manslaughter in healthcare. Working with stakeholders, the Review considered: how to ensure healthcare professionals are adequately informed about: where and … Continue reading Williams Review

Response to medication harm reports

Janice Perkins FRPharmS, Chair of the Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group, has issued a statement responding to Jeremy Hunt's recommendations for a programme of work to tackle medication error and improve medicine safety. "Whilst undoubtedly distressing, the findings of today’s reports into medication error re-enforce the importance that every part of the health and care system … Continue reading Response to medication harm reports

Safer dispensing

Some of the MSOs on the Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group have been working closely with a collaborative of Academic Health Science Networks in the North West on a project which aims to improve the safety of medication dispensing in primary care by combining human factors and quality improvement sciences. The project uses the ‘Training … Continue reading Safer dispensing